A moose is a very rare sight in Pennsylvania. One spotted in the Delaware Water Gap 25 years ago this week was believed to be the first in over a century. Here’s how The Express-Times reported the unusual story on Sept. 26, 1996.
Bob Kirby was skeptical at first.
So was the ranger who drew the assignment on Monday.
“A fellow came in to headquarters and said he saw a moose,” explained Kirby, assistant superintendent of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
“About 45 minutes later (after he left) the guy came back in, more excited than ever.”
Local resident Kevin Burnside urged park officials to check it out themselves. Kirby reluctantly asked his chief ranger to have another ranger take a look.
“Lo and behold, they found a moose,” Kirby said. … “We did some research and it turns out there hasn’t been a moose spotted in this area since the mid-1800s.”
The moose, estimated to weigh between 800 and 1,000 pounds, was spotted in a wooded area southeast of the Fernwood Resort on Monday, Kirby said.
Wildlife officials believe the animal is a 4-year-old antlered bull that also has been seen recently in New Jersey and New York, Kirby said.
“It’s rutting season,” he said. “And he’s looking for ladies in all the wrong places.”
The moose left a recognizable hoofprint on the shore of Culvers Lake, an area similar to the habitat moose prefer. But he definitely does not belong in either New Jersey or Pennsylvania.
“The closest viable (moose) population is in the Adirondacks region of upper New York state,” said Bob Ericksen, a principal biologist with the state Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife.
The 70,000-acre recreation area stretches about 35 miles along both sides of the Delaware River in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
“The Delaware River wouldn’t faze him,” Ericksen said of the moose. “They’re powerful swimmers.”
… A wide assortment of wildlife live within the park, including coyotes, black bears, bobcats, minks, foxes, white-tailed deer, raccoons, opossums, rabbits and squirrels.
“And a moose,” Kirby said.
MORE LEHIGH VALLEY HISTORICAL NOTES THIS WEEK
• 1971: Dam the Delaware? The fate of the Delaware River was at a tipping point. This week 50 years ago, the Easton Express ran a multi-day series exploring all aspects of the Tocks Island Dam controversy — the proponents who claimed it would control flooding, and the activists who found flaws in that plan. The dam plan was sunk in 1975. Instead of a lake, the seized land became the current Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
• 2011: Record-setting rain. Ten years ago, the Lehigh Valley was closing out its rainiest two-month period on record. Fueled by tropical storms, September 2011 had 12.99 inches of rain, good for third-most in one month all-time. The previous month, August 2011 (13.47 inches), still holds the Lehigh Valley monthly precipitation record.
This story is part of Lehigh Valley Then, a weekly series that recalls historical headlines from lehighvalleylive.com affiliate The Express-Times and its predecessors from 10, 20, 25, 50 and 100 years ago. Stories are pulled from microfilm at the Easton and Bethlehem area public libraries. Excerpts from the original text are edited for clarity and length.
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Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com.
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A moose? Here?! What happened when the 1st in a century was seen in the Delaware Water Gap. - lehighvalleylive.com
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