These Are Some of the Best Places to See Moose in Maine

Our Pine Tree State is full of moose, but you're more likely to see them in some areas than in others.

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It's always exciting to spot wildlife while driving in Maine. You never know what you'll encounter — horses, cows, bears, turkeys, and ducks are just a few possibilities. Who hasn’t driven past a farm, spotted some cows, and said, ‘Oooh, cows!’

Seeing a moose is always exciting, as long as it’s not standing in front of your car.

Hitting any animal on the road is dangerous, but a moose collision can be especially deadly. Over the past decade, moose-related accidents have varied in number, but they are undoubtedly more often fatal than deer collisions.

Before we talk about where and when you’re most likely to see them, just how many moose are there in Maine?

Maine is known for having the largest moose population in the lower 48 states. While we don't have an exact count, experts still have a good idea of how many moose live in the state. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife estimated there were around 76,000 moose back in 2012. So, while there's no ‘moose census,’ we can still get a rough idea of their numbers.

Alright, with that being said, where in Maine are we most likely to see moose in the wild?

If you want to see moose in Maine, the best place to look is in the northern forestlands. Moose are most active at dusk and dawn, often found in areas where trees are regularly harvested. These forests have plenty of young trees and shrubs that moose rely on for food. Moose also like to hang out near wetlands, ponds, and lakes, which are common in the northern parts of our state.

While there’s no guarantee, here are a few specific places to go for moose spotting.

According to Northern Outdoors’ website, in Maine, moose are most commonly found in the western and northern regions compared to the coastal and southern areas.

Places like...

• Route 201 from The Forks to the Canadian border.
• Route 27 between Carrabassett and Eustis
• Route 6 from Dover-Foxcroft to Greenville
• Moosehead Lake including Lazy Tom Bog and Greenville.
• The Golden Road
• and Baxter State Park

...are all known spots for moose sightings in western Maine.

Again, Maine is home to tens of thousands of moose, so they can be spotted anywhere in the state. However, if you’re looking for the best chances to see moose, these moose-dense regions are the places to visit.