Watch these rare triplet moose calves near Baxter State Park
By Julie Harris, Bangor Daily News Staff
Wayne Clukey of West Enfield couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw these three babies tagging along with their Mom near Baxter State Park on Wednesday, June 19 (https://www.youtube.com/shorts/tGMwZIIic6g).
Triplet moose calves have occurred one in about 1,000 over the last 14 years, state moose biologist Lee Kantar said Friday, June 21.
MOOSE TRIPLETS — Wayne Clukey captured this moose mom and her triplets recently in the Katahdin region.
Kantar’s conclusion was based on scientific examinations of more than 2,000 cow moose ovaries. In actual numbers there were only two cows out of 2,103 that could have had triplets.
These triplets seem to be thriving under their mom’s care.
Clukey, a registered Maine guide, owns Ammadamast Guide Service. He was near Baxter State Park when he saw the big moose with two calves standing on a woods road.
Clukey said he stopped to film the moose and then he saw the third one.
“[It was] just an incredible moment,” he said on June 21.
The number of calves a cow moose has is directly related to its body weight and health, according to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
Calves stay with their mom for a year. She drives them off just before the next calf is born, the department said.
Newborn calves are in danger of being killed by coyotes and bears, MDIF&W said.