Most elusive wildlife to spot

[poconoron]

Having spent many thousands of hours in the backcountry in the Northeast (mainly Poconos, ADKs, Algonquin Park, Maine), the most elusive wildlife to spot for me has been:

Weasel- never spotted one
Bobcat- twice over a 35 year period
Marten-never, though from what others have said here- I guess I need to head
into High Peaks!
Osprey- twice
Fisher- once
Lynx- never
Moose- several times in Algonquin

On the other hand, I've spotted black bears, coyotes, porcupines, possums, wild turkeys, bald eagles, racoons, and of course WT Deer on numerous occasions.

How about others on ADK Forum?

[Wldrns]

I've seen otters many times in the water, and they have followed me and toyed with me as I paddle along. But I was most surprised to see one on dry land some distance from the water. Between two lakes I heard what can only be described as a "ka-thwump ka-thwump ka-thwump" sound headed directly toward me through the brush. I couldn't figure out what it was, but it sounded big. It stopped no more than 5 feet from me. I couldn't believe how huge it was, its body looked as big as a German shepard dog on very short legs. It glanced at me briefly and continued on past to the next lake.

The next most impressive sight was a cow moose with newborn calf on the shore of a small lake in the western Adirondacks. I thank Pete Hornbeck for many of these kinds of sightings, I wouldn't have been in either place without his boat.

[Boreal Chickadee]

In the northeast I've seen black bears (Daks and Maine), moose (many many in Maine), bobcats, one mountain lion ( in northern Maine), coyotes, weasel, pine marten, mink, fisher, muskrat, otters , porcupines, possums, raccoons, rattlesnakes (two), turkeys, ruffed grouse, spruce grouse, bald eagles, golden eagle, ospreys, loons, birds, birds, birds, and harbor seals. The seals count! I see them from land every summer. The puffins don't count-I had to take a boat trip.

But... Even though I've seen plenty of moose in Maine I'm still waiting to see a moose in the Adirondacks, even though I've found their scat and tracks.

And...every time I drive home at night from hiking I still keep watch hoping to see another bear. I never tire of them. My son is so tired of hearing me say "maybe tonight we'll see a bear ". Ever the optimist!

[Dick]

In the northeast I've seen black bears (Daks and Maine), moose (many many in Maine), bobcats, one mountain lion ( in northern Maine), coyotes, weasel, pine marten, mink, fisher, muskrat, otters , porcupines, possums, raccoons, rattlesnakes (two), turkeys, ruffed grouse, spruce grouse, bald eagles, golden eagle, ospreys, loons, birds, birds, birds, and harbor seals. The seals count! I see them from land every summer. The puffins don't count-I had to take a boat trip.

But... Even though I've seen plenty of moose in Maine I'm still waiting to see a moose in the Adirondacks, even though I've found their scat and tracks.

And...every time I drive home at night from hiking I still keep watch hoping to see another bear. I never tire of them. My son is so tired of hearing me say "maybe tonight we'll see a bear ". Ever the optimist!

All of the above (a few grouse, not sure of the specific type), minus the cats. Guess I'll add beaver, and many squirrels and mice. I think I saw a judge once, but it could well have been a hallucination.

Dick

[poconoron]

But... Even though I've seen plenty of moose in Maine I'm still waiting to see a moose in the Adirondacks, even though I've found their scat and tracks.

And...every time I drive home at night from hiking I still keep watch hoping to see another bear. I never tire of them. My son is so tired of hearing me say "maybe tonight we'll see a bear ". Ever the optimist!

I'm also waiting for my first ADK moose- sometimes I feel I might give up my right arm (OK, maybe the left) if I could just spot one. As for black bears, I'm fortunate enough to see anywhere from 4-8 or so each year in the Poconos- great habitat and food suppy for them......

[Judgeh]

All of the above (a few grouse, not sure of the specific type), minus the cats. Guess I'll add beaver, and many squirrels and mice. I think I saw a judge once, but it could well have been a hallucination.

Dick

hallucination

[redhawk]

Most Elusive? Withour Baiting?

Mountain Lion without a doubt.

[Gray Ghost]

The most elusive in my experience are all of the felines, though there is a strong indication that there are no lynx left at all from what i've read. I still have missed out on seeing a Moose as well. Others I'm waiting on include Fisher, Marten, a few others. On Mount Defiance yesterday I did see a bald eagle, but I still didn't get that straight on view I've been waiting for.

Osprey are really coming back in the Eastern Region. In fact, I would dare say I see more of them now than any other bird of prey.

[poconoron]

Osprey are really coming back in the Eastern Region. In fact, I would dare say I see more of them now than any other bird of prey.

That's great news.........another bird on the comeback trail that I enjoy immensely is the Raven- they can make some wild sounds.

[Gray Ghost]

Ravens do sound cool. I remember a couple of them chatting away while I was on Poke-O-Moonshine a couple years ago.

[Boreal Chickadee]

Ravens can be watched quite easily on their nest at Chimney Mountain. They are very cool birds.

[kurtteej]

The most elusive for me has been moose. In my travels I've seen lots of critters, but mostly outside of the Dax. I've seen elk, bears, various cats, many many migratory and other birds, but I've only seen 1 moose and that was in Canada out north of Banff.

[redhawk]

The most elusive for me has been moose. In my travels I've seen lots of critters, but mostly outside of the Dax. I've seen elk, bears, various cats, many many migratory and other birds, but I've only seen 1 moose and that was in Canada out north of Banff.

If it's Moose you want to see, then paddle the Allagash Wilderness in Maine. We saw 13 Moose last August, including four swimming in the river. We also saw many Eagles, Bald and Golden as well as Great Blue Herons in quantity, Beaver and Otter.

The Allagash is a wonderful adventure and I reccommend it for everyone.

[AdkWiley]

If your looking for a ADK moose paddle around in teh osgood. I saw a good amount of tracks along the shore there and I was told by a person who works at a campground there that the area is a corridor for traveling moose. He saw 5 around there last summer! They also had a Moose at the Paul Smiths VIC in their bog in august which is right down the road from the other sightings.

[fvrwld]

I have yet to see a moose and I would love my first moose sighting to be in the Adirondacks.

I saw my frist pine marten on the Van Ho trail at the junction for the Phleps Mountain trail on Sunday. How cute!!