Moose Research Updates

For a Monday, I’m obnoxiously happy. Of course, it could be the fact that I had a cup of coffee at 8:00 (photography), another at 1:00 (installation art), a tea at 4:00 (meeting with a professor) and another at 6:30 (meeting with a marketing director). Happy and hydrated, that’s me.

I’m supposed to be using this blog for my Narrative Art: Reportage class (hi Prof. Gloeckner) and post my research. Today I finally got a hold of two wildlife biologists that had been involved with Moose Lift and the moose re-introduction project. I enjoyed getting first hand narratives about how they used helicopters to dart the moose. Favorite fact of the day: sometimes, after being hit with a tranquilizer, the moose fell asleep standing up and the helicopter had to nudge and prod the moose until it fell over. I don’t know about you, but as an artist, I hear details like that and immediately know that it’ll make a great illustration.

The more I read up about this project and moose behavior, the clearer my narrative is becoming. At this point, my very rough outline is as follows: At age 6 months, a bull calf has to leave his mother and begin his own life. During this process, he learns about his personal/family history, starting from his mother who was one of the original translocated moose from Ontario, an elderly moose who is one of the few native Michigan moose, and a young adult male who is concerned about global warming (moose overheat very quickly and need lots of shade and water during the summers. Biologists think that warmer temperatures may be affecting their reproduction rates). In the end, this moose returns to his mother for the winter and says something profound to bring closure to this mini-saga. And they lived happily ever after…

Off to some more research. And write a better conclusion. Night everyone!