The Moose that Loved a Trailer

Ten year old Debbie was on a camping trip with her mom and dad. Her dad had brought home a new trailer to use for

their camping instead of the heavy, old tent they used on previous trips.

It wasn’t a very big trailer but Dad said it had all the conveniences and that’s all that mattered. It was about 16 feet long

and was a pretty white color with green pine trees as trim.

Somehow they and the trailer survived the dips and bumps which constantly jarred them as they made their way on dirt

roads to a backwoods campsite. Mr. Prescott parked the trailer in a clearing near a lake. Then he and Mrs. Prescott busied

themselves organ-izing the campsite for a week’s stay.

They had carried a small boat on top of their car. Debbie rowed the boat around while her parents set up camp.

Next morning all three went fishing in the boat. After several hours, during which they caught many small fish and only

two large enough to keep, it was time to return to camp for lunch.

As they neared camp Debbie sat in the bow of the boat, her dad rowed and her mother sat in the stern. Debbie noticed

something near their trailer and cautioned her father to stop rowing until they found out what it was. When they were almost

to shore Debbie saw a small moose standing next to the trailer rubbing its neck against the outside of the trailer. This

puzzled Debbie. Why would a moose rub its neck on a trailer? It didn’t make sense.

“If we don’t frighten the moose away we won’t be able to get to the trailer,” commented Mr. Prescott. “Let’s continue to

shore and make lots of noise. That way perhaps she’ll leave.”

By yelling and stamping their feet they were able to get the moose’s attention. When it saw them standing on shore the

moose stamped its own feet and ran off into the brush.

“Get into the trailer quickly, in case it returns,” said Mr. Prescott. “Perhaps it won’t come near the trailer if we’re in it.”

For the next hour there was no sign of the moose. Then, while Mrs. Prescott was preparing supper, she felt a slight

bump and a gentle rocking of the trailer. When she looked out the door there was the moose. Again, it was rubbing its neck

against the side of the trailer. It wasn’t trying to move the trailer, as it might if it was angry or disturbed. Instead, it was more

like a cat when it rubs itself against a person to show affection.

“Does it like the trailer?” asked a bewildered Debbie.

“It seems to,” responded her mother. “I’ve never seen a moose up close before so I don’t know what’s going on. Do

you, Hal?” she asked her husband.

“Maybe she thinks it’s a boy moose and she’s fallen in love,” was his reply.

The moose left them at dusk and they were able to enjoy a night’s sleep with no rocking and rolling.

The following day the family rose early to hike around the lake, a distance of about four miles. When they left the trailer

there was no sign of their visitor. Upon their return, however, she was lying peacefully next to the trailer.

“It looks like she has taken a permanent interest in our home,” said Mr. Prescott. “We’d better be careful not ot upset

her; I’ve heard that a charging moose can be very dangerous.”

Apparently the moose wasn’t in a charging mood. As soon as she became aware the humans had returned she rose

and loped off slowly into the woods.

This went on for the rest of the week. Each day, as they returned from their daily activities the moose was by the trailer.

At times she was rubbing her neck, at other times sleeping peacefully.

When the time arrived for the family to leave they and the moose were so accustomed to each other that the Prescotts

could approach quite close to the trailer before the moose moved away. Then, she moved to the edge of the woods and

remained there all the time Debbie and her parents were in or near the trailer.

Hitching up the trailer for their departure was a heart-rending affair. The moose stood at the edge of the forest and

watched them with sorrowful eyes. As they drove away she moved out to the road and stood watching quietly until her hoped

for mate disappeared from view.