In the Company of Moose

by Victor Van Ballenberghe

At the western end of the Denali Park road, there are moose living on the tundra in September. . . . This area is special mainly because the moose live in the shadow of Mount McKinley, the tallest peak in North America. From the north side it is awe inspiring, rising up from the lowlands, snow covered yearlong for two-thirds of its height. In September on clear, blue-sky days, when the tundra is red and Mount McKinley forms the backdrop, this moose country has no equal. --Victor Van Ballenberghe Moose, the giant deer of the northern forests of Europe, Asia, and North America, can grow up to seven feet tall at the shoulder and exceed sixteen hundred pounds. Author and wildlife biologist Victor Van Ballenberghe has studied wild moose in the field for thirty-five years. The author gives insights into the species, their habitat, and predators and shares intimate stories about the moose he has studied for extensive periods. The beauty of these creatures, their strange grace and gentle nature, and their personalities are captured in lively text and dramatic full-color photos.

Genres: Nature, Nonfiction

136 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Allen Steele · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exceptional book about a subject I knew very little about. I wrongly assumed that these "Giants of the North" lived like other deer species. Boy, was I wrong.
Written by a wildlife biologist of more than 35 years. His book highlights their graceful movements, their gentle nature & their unique personalities. It chronicles the life of a number of Moose that were radio collared. It talks about the effects of predation on the population. How the rut is won, and the bulls with the superior antlers and fighting skills pass their genes on to the most offspring. How the rut works and the fights that take place between males for the right to mate. The fauns and how jocular they can be.
In summary, these animals are powerful, inveterate, and under appreciated because of how little we come into contact with "Their World" I came away from this book with a sense of awe of the complex diversity of nature. I am glad I read this.
(Opinion: How wonderful God is)

[Richard Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredible book about moose that I always wanted to read ever since my family visited Denali National Park 15 years ago. Stunning photography and detailed descriptions of moose behavior and habits. Such grand, majestic animals.

[Babs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Victor's writing and knowledge he shared about Moose behavior. I appreciate his time spent researching the subject. Well done.

[Melissa Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good book, but very hard to read if you are like me and love moose. The stories the author tells about the moose he studied are fun and informative, but some are very heart-wrenching. The reality of nature can be very unforgiving sometimes. If you want to know the good, the bad, and the ugly about moose, this is your book! But have kleenex nearby.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful pictures of scenic Alaska. Fascinating look into the research this guy did for several decades. He also tells stories about his wolf studies.