RFI: Moose and Fisher in New England
I’ll be living in Boston for a year, and I’d like to see Moose and Fisher while I’m here. What’s the best place to search for Moose within a 3-4 (perhaps 5) hour drive from Boston? The White Mountains in New Hampshire, northeastern Vermont, or maybe somewhere in Maine? I’m thinking of going for a weekend later this month.
Locals have told me that Fisher is widespread, but shy. I spent a morning at Assabet River NWR without luck, and I’m planning to keep trying there every week or so until I see one. That said, if anyone has specific information about a more reliable place, please let me know.
I’m still working on my trip report from NE India. I’ll post it here when it’s done.
Ben
5 Comments
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Andrew Block
Good luck on the fisher. It’s very hard to go specifically looking for them. You almost always just happen on one. I’ve been living in and going to fisher habitat for over 40 years and have only seen one, which I caught in a live trap. Moose are a lot easier to see. I agree with Vladimir that Errol is a good place, but most of my moose sightings come in Maine along Rtes. 4, 16, and 27, in a big circle. Just keep an eye out for them along the roads and in wetlands. I find the best area is from Rte. 16 to 27 which is b/w Rangeley and Eustis/Stratton. Another place to look is Baxter State Park and the Golden Road southwest of there. I just had three females on the Golden Road this September. I advise getting a DeLorme Atlas and gazateer to use which has great detail for moose finding. Being that it is the rut now you may actually get some good chances at them because they are a lot more active. Like Vladimir says Spring is a good time to find them before it gets hot and they move into the deeper woods. Fall is also a good time because it’s cooler and they are in the rut. I have a buddy who lives in Jay, Maine and does nothing but photograph moose and deer and is an expert on places to see them who I can put you in touch with if you want. I’m sure he’d show you around for a nominal fee or just give you info. Let me know. My email is ablock22168@yahoo.com if you’re interested.
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kbrown217Kevin Brown
Route 16 between Errol and Berlin, at Dawn or Dusk worked for us in late August, 4 sightings in total
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geomalia
We spent two mornings and two afternoons driving along Rt 16 between Rangeley and Stratton in Maine, and saw only one Moose. The timing was not ideal for two reasons: a week of hunting occurred just a week before, and spotlighting is prohibited from September 1 – December 15. I am planning to head back in the spring.
Andrew’s friend Ernie showed me some incredible photos he had taken of a Lynx on the Golden Road. Beautiful animal! I’d like to try to search for one sometime. Any tips? Is following their tracks in the snow a good approach?
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vdinets
Following lynx tracks usually works if you have a snowmobile. I once spent a winter tracking a pair of Eurasian lynxes on skis every weekend, and only got a sighting in March 🙂 A better way to do it is to track backwards and study how they use their home range, then try to wait for them in one of the places they visit most frequently. It might be a bit easier with Canadian lynxes as they have smaller home ranges. But simply driving at night through good habitat is much more effective, especially if it’s a lynx year (which it isn’t AFAIK).
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vdinets
Moose are easier in spring and summer. Try looking along Rte. 114 between East Burke and Canaan in Vermont, in Connecticut Lakes State Forest in New Hampshire, along Rte. 16 south of Errol, also in New Hampshire, and in the official moose viewing area on Rte. 26 ten miles west of Errol.