The picture I also like to refer to as "OH MY FUCKING GOD IT'S A MOOSE YOU GUYS."

So if you haven't noticed already, I'm back from my week in Wyoming, having spent five days in Yellowstone National Park and then two days in the Grand Tetons. And yes, it was quite the excursion--a very surreal experience, it felt like I was in a completely different world, yet it was so familiar as it's a very similar environment to what I'm used to in northern Wisconsin. And to document the renowned beauty of this famous park, I took well over five hundred photos, some of which I'm definitely sharing with you guys. They'll be a lovely addition to my photography portfolio.

This was actually taken on my first day in the Grand Tetons, as you aren't likely to find moose anymore in Yellowstone--most of them moved out of the park after the wildfire in '88 destroyed their winter habitat. I've definitely gained a fascination with this animal after this encounter, which was easily the highlight of my trip.

We actually saw not one, but THREE fully grown bull moose grazing along this river. The first one was much further away near a bridge, mostly hidden in the bushes, which most people got to see, but on a whim me and my family went further downstream (or was it upstream, I really don't remember), and happened upon two more grazing in plain sight. We were carefully watching these guys for at least twenty minutes, and we must have been at least thirty or forty feet away at one point--when in actuality you're supposed to stay at least 25 yards away because they can be very aggressive. XD

Just being that close was probably the best wildlife encounter I've ever had, and I've had many of them, trust me. These guys are massive, just as big if not bigger than a horse, and those antlers make them all the more impressive. This one in particular was easily the biggest one we saw. They're as tall as seven feet in height at the shoulders and can weigh as much as 900 lbs. The antlers themselves can be as heavy as 50 lbs each!

Some more awesome facts about moose: they're the largest member of the deer family, which I had no idea until this trip. They're also very aquatic, grazing mostly on aquatic plants like these guys were, and can dive up to 20 feet and can hold their breath for more than a minute! Also, if you can see that the antlers are rather fuzzy looking, it's because they have a layer of velvet until they shed it for the rutting season.

If you can't tell, moose are now among my favorite animals--I even have a plush moose hat to commemorate the occasion. XD As an animal lover, it's a very special experience for me.

Taken in Grant Tetons, Wyomining, on August 11th, 2011.