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Source: https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/q/20392
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

<p>We've often heard that moose are most active in the early morning or late in the day, around dusk, and are usually near a natural water source. </p>

<p>Every year, we travel a few hours away to areas that are known for significant moose populations. We choose the “right” time, and “best” spots. We stay on a road or trail and wait, but have very rarely caught a glimpse of one in its natural habitat, and when we do, there are often trees between us and the moose. </p>

<p>We've always wanted clear pictures of moose, and I'm jealous of people who get them! I also study animals online, and use videos and pictures to learn. We'll never be able to protect animals if we don't understand them, so we need documentation. </p>

<p>There was a very sad story recently about a group of people at the edge of a lake watching a moose swimming toward them. After he got out of the water, they gathered to take close-up photos and videos. They scared him, and he went back into the water, became exhausted and eventually drowned. </p>

<p>People talk a lot about the real need to protect ourselves from moose and other wild animals, but it goes the other way too, meaning we need to protect them from us. This incident made me think there must be many times we scare an animal, even to death, but it's not so obvious, so we don't realize it. </p>

<p>What are some ways to be more respectful of the animal's private space, to just let him go about his daily activities without scaring him, and still get good pictures?  How can we balance our desire without putting him in a dangerous situation where we may inadvertently cause him irreparable harm?</p>