Wildlife Watching in New Hampshire
Where can I see moose?
For New Hampshire residents and visitors alike, the sight of a magnificent moose is breathtaking. People often ask, where can I go for the best chance of seeing a moose? On this page, N.H. Fish and Game Moose Project Leader Kristine Rines offers some expert advice.
From your car: Routes in New Hampshire where moose are often seen, especially from May through October, include:
- Route 3 north of Pittsburg to the Canadian border;
- Route16 north of Milan to the Maine Border;
- Route 26 east of Dixville Notch to the Maine Border;
- Route 112 from Lincoln east to the Bear Notch Road;
- Route 110 north of Berlin to Rte 110A.
Rines suggests traveling these roads at dusk, looking for roadside salt licks where moose come out of the woods to feed on road salt that has washed off the roads and accumulated in wet areas. Good areas for moose viewing will usually have multiple cars filled with camera-toting folks hoping for a moose! Park well off the road and be aware these roads are heavily traveled and speeds often exceed 55 miles per hour.
SAFETY FIRST! While watching moose, NEVER approach them or allow them to approach you. Stay in your vehicle or well away from the moose. Always keep a good distance from them and always have a good stout tree or your vehicle nearby. Moose are large, potentially dangerous animals that can run as fast as a galloping horse. They do not always show their displeasure or give any warning before attacking. If they do feel threatened or angry, moose will raise the hackles on their neck, lay their ears back, jerk their nose at you, roll the whites of their eyes -- or just run at you, knock you down and then stomp you until you stop moving. Please give them a wide berth.
Ponds and clearcuts: In addition to the roads mentioned above, some of New Hampshire's northern ponds are great spots for moose watching. Moose feed on aquatics early in the morning and at dusk, so, any pond with aquatics may hold moose at these times of year. The best part is that you can fish or kayak while waiting for a moose to show up! Of course, in regions with higher moose densities (north and west), you’re more likely to see a moose.
You can also check out any new clearcut with regrowth from 1 foot to four feet tall. Again, early morning or dusk are the best times to see moose. Clearcuts offer a chance to do some birding while scanning the cut for moose.
MOOSE TOURS: If you like, let experienced moose tour guides find the moose for you. Opportunities for seasonal moose-watching "tours" in New Hampshire (private enterprises not associated with the N.H. Fish and Game Department) include*:- Gorham Moose Tours --
3-hour wildlife adventure along the Androscoggin River and 13-Mile Woods; late May to mid-October. Reservations recommended. 69 Main Street, Gorham, NH 03581;
Phone: 877-986-6673;
Web: www.gorhamnh.org.
- Pemi Valley Excursions -- Offers scenic tours of the best moose watching areas in the White Mountains. Main Street, Lincoln, NH 03251; phone 603-745-2744; or visit www.moosetoursnh.com.
BRAKE FOR MOOSE: A final reminder, moose are found throughout the Granite State, so when traveling our roads, please remember to slow down and Brake for Moose -- it could save your life! Click here for info on how to avoid moose collisions on New Hampshire's roadways.
Click here for a wildlife profile about moose, New Hampshire's largest land mammal.
*Requests for businesses to be added to the "Moose-watching Tours" list above should be directed to jane.vachon@wildlife.nh.gov.
