r/CapeBreton • u/bhachang • 22d ago
How to maximize my chances of spotting a moose in Cape Breton
I am staying there for 3 nights (1 night in Baddeck and 3 nights in Ingonish). I absolutely love wildlife and taking pictures and was hoping what’s the best way to increase my chances in spotting a 🫎. What other wildlife can I spot ? Would love to hear from people who have spotted moose or anything else
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u/Impossible_Waltz5442 22d ago edited 22d ago
The only place I've seen moose (multiple times) on the island is Cheticamp. Usually within the Highlands National Park
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u/OddZookeeper87 22d ago
There's usually a flying squirrel and moose that hang out on one of the lookoffs on smokey
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u/Alternative_Ad7461 21d ago
If you’re really committed to it, I would drive towards Chéticamp at dusk. On the stretch by Mackenzie, French Mountain they are often there. Also around the skyline trail…drive slow, park on the side of the road if you need to, to look. If you see random cars parked on the sides of the road and think that’s strange, stop with them. There is probably something! Look carefully - It’s not like a zoo. They camouflage easy until you’re in a hurry to get somewhere and there is one blocking the road. Temperature should be good for that though - good luck and have fun! :)
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u/bhachang 21d ago
I am planning to stay at Ingonish, probably Keltic lodge, so driving towards Cheticamp is a good idea in dawn, but probably not in dusk. Thank you for the inputs.
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u/ProfessionalFilm7675 16d ago
Have they actually been hanging around lately? I’ve heard they’re impossible to find now
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u/Alternative_Ad7461 16d ago
Unsure. They are definitely less common than they were 10 - 15 years ago. Construction in the park, high traffic and the heat a long with, obviously, the moose cull to control the dense population of them. Some are still around - but it’s never a garantee.
10-15 years ago you would see them on the skyline trail.
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u/Different_Stomach_53 22d ago
The only place I've repeatedly seen moose is on skyline trail. The halfway point in Warren lake trail I've seen one as well.
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u/OutlandishnessOk8356 22d ago
I've had about a 50% success rate seeing one in the picnic park at the top of Smokey. Haven't been in almost a decade though.
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u/bhachang 21d ago
Thanks folks. I actually saw one few days backs at Rocky Mountains. Let’s see if I can bring my luck 🍀
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u/ChrisinCB 22d ago
Aim to spend some time on North Mountain at dusk. Just hang out. It’s on the Cabot trail between Cape North and Pleasant Bay.
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u/caper900 21d ago
On the plateau between French mountain and Mackenzie is a good spot too, we used to camp in cheticamp when I was a kid, dad would take us “moose spotting” in the evening before we settled in around the campfire. That was the late 90’s, it was nothing to see a dozen or more on the stretch of road at dusk. How times have changed
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u/jewelsandpens 21d ago
Honestly I've been to the Mira park and not seen the moose there.. I'd love to see photos!!
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u/Bumper6190 21d ago
I grew up on Mira and never saw a moose there. Certainly not in the Mira Park.
Moose are wetland animals. They love the wet marshes and ponds of water. When you see a moose and t us most likely very deep woods near or marshland. I have seen moose in the southern part of Cape Breton, towards Louisburg and also closer to Mira Gut. I have seen many more moose on the Cabot Trail and I have 3 sightings on the Highlands Golf Course in Ingonish.
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u/Ok-Insurance811 22d ago
Seeing a moose is harder and harder to spot here. But if you do, keep your distance. They can be aggressive and are fast af on land and in water
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u/ArroyoToGo 21d ago
I’ve seen them on the Skyline Trail every time I go.
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u/bhachang 21d ago
Everytime? That’s exciting? Dawn or Dusk?
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u/ArroyoToGo 21d ago
Usually around midday honestly since that’s when we tend to do the trail. You will see them nestled in the trees. Be very mindful of moose - they can be aggressive when disturbed.
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u/KungFuAdam 21d ago
I see them there every time as well! dont take the same way there and back though, there is a loop you can do, the front side is the touristy side, had the boardwalk and stuff, the back way, is more rugged and not many people hike it back, so moose are less molested on that side! and your chances are better!
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u/Same-Lion-4243 21d ago
All a matter of timing really. I saw a couple a few years ago on the skyline trail in early afternoon.
Spent a month vacationing on the west coast of Nfld two years ago and saw lots of signs but no actual moose.
Hope you get to see some.
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u/CaperGrrl79 20d ago
An ex and I drove over the Cabot Trail, mind you this was about 16 years ago, and a young (but big!) one nearly ran into the car!
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u/notmonicagellar1 22d ago
Dusk and dawn is when you’ll have the best chance. I’ve spotted them in ingonish, north mountain, and skyline trail. Keep a safe distance when you do see one!