On the Lookout for Moose on Michigan’s Isle Royale
By the time I planned my trip, the only inn on the island was fully booked, so camping was my sole option. And I decided to drive from New York, because it would have been something of a nightmare to get on a plane with all my photography equipment and camping gear.
Isle Royale is a six-hour ferry ride from the port in Houghton, a small city on the Upper Peninsula. Established as a national park in 1940, it is known for its moose population; in 2018 there were around 1,500 on the island. (It’s also known for its much smaller wolf population, which has fluctuated dramatically in recent years, raising complicated questions about conservation.) On the ferry, my fellow passengers and I were instructed to keep a safe distance from the moose — about the length of a railway car. “When in doubt, move farther away,” the National Park Service advises.
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