Welcome to the meadow!

Homer, Alaska is the winter getaway spot for the lower Kenai Peninsula moose.  Its lower elevation and marine-influenced moderate temperatures mean less snow to wade through, more exposed edibles, and an earlier greening in the Spring.  

The moderate conditions that moose love also attract people!  In Homer, like many other urban places, traditional moose wintering grounds are being stripped of willows, filled in, and paved over.  This small area provides a vital oasis for Homer's moose population.  In the winter and spring you can often encounter a moose as you walk to and from the Visitor Center along these trails.  

Keep you eyes peeled, and always be sure to give moose a wide berth!  Moose may seem tolerant of human presence, but surprisingly there are more fatal moose encounters than bear encounters in Alaska.
The power of a moose’s hoof kicking with 1,000 pounds of force can prove deadly. Moose cows and calves need extra room. In early May, females chase off their yearling calves and are very sensitive to disturbance during the last weeks of their pregnancy. From late May to early June, most calves are born and females remain very protective throughout the summer.

If you do encounter a moose on the trail, move away! Maintain a space of 75 feet or more between yourself and a moose. Watch for body language. If the moose lowers its head and ears, and the hair on its back and neck stands up, back off. If a moose charges, retreat behind a large tree or rock. Most moose charges are bluffs and getting behind something solid offers important protection from their sharp, powerful hooves.

Remember, keeping your distance from moose is the best way to avoid a negative encounter. But, be sure to bring your camera and a zoom lens, or binoculars!  This area is a great viewing spot for moose, eagles, and many gulls, ducks and other species that live on or migrate through the Beluga Slough.