Reader photo: Taking a dip on the wild side

A bull moose cools off in the waters of a Stevens County lake while boaters drift past. Joanie Christian captured this scene on Sunday. The bull moose was visibly limping and had a damaged eye, Christian noted.

“I’m not sure if they were old or new injuries, but he had battle scars all over his head,” she said. “I have a feeling that bull moose has some stories to tell.”

Moose wile away hot summer days foraging for food and keeping cool. Moose are able to close their nostrils which allows them to graze while under water. Plus, being surrounded by water makes them harder for predators to attack.

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