Specter Moose of Maine – Legends of America
The dense, whispering forests of Maine have long been a breeding ground for folklore and tales of the unexplained. Among the most enduring of these legends is that of the Specter Moose, a colossal, ghostly creature said to roam the remote wilderness, captivating and sometimes terrifying those who claim to have encountered it. The legend of the Specter Moose is so fascinating that an article was published about it in the Williston, North Dakota Graphic on December 6th, 1900, which said, “The enormous moose that has been the wonder of the sportsmen in northern Maine since 1891 has again been seen … Every story from the north woods concerning this moose makes him a little bigger than before. It is generally believed that no moose ever killed in Maine, or, so far as is known, anywhere else, has approached in stature or weight, much less in the spread of antlers, this specter moose of Lobster Lake.”
Early Sightings and Whispers of a Legend
The story begins in 1891, when Clarence Duffy, a seasoned hunting guide from Oldtown, Maine, had an encounter that would forever alter his perception of the North Woods. While working near Lobster Lake, Duffy claimed to have seen a moose unlike any other. This was no ordinary bull; it was a massive, pale figure, almost ghostly in its appearance.
Duffy’s initial report was met with skepticism and laughter. However, the whispers of a giant, white moose began to spread when John Ross, a respected lumberman from Bangor, also reported a sighting at Lobster Lake just a few months later. With two credible witnesses, the legend of the Specter Moose began to take root in the collective imagination of Maine’s residents.
That same year, a hunter from New York encountered the moose near Sourdnahunlt Lake and fired several shots into the animal. However, the shots had no apparent effect, except for enraging the animal, and the hunter had to take refuge in a bear cave.
The Encounter of Howard Van Ness
The turning point in the Specter Moose saga came in 1892, when Howard Van Ness, a sportsman from New York City, had a dramatic encounter. Van Ness and three companions were hunting some 30 miles northeast of Norcross when he came across the creature. He described it as "weighed a ton, and as tall as a camel, with magnificent head and antler." After shooting the animal just above the shoulder, the moose let out a deep bellow and charged Van Ness. He was forced to take shelter beneath a tangled mass of fallen trees and branches. The moose then circled the area at tremendous speed and once jumped over his hiding place before finally giving up.
Van Ness’s account, coupled with his status as an outsider, lent further credibility to the growing legend. The Specter Moose was no longer just a figment of local imagination; it was becoming a phenomenon.
Further Encounters and Descriptions
In the years that followed, more sightings were reported. In 1895, Granville Gray, a taxidermist from Bangor, observed the moose from a distance. Then, in 1899, Gilman Brown of West Newbury, Massachusetts, had a close encounter on the Roach River. Brown claimed to have counted 22 points on one side of the moose’s antlers – an extraordinary number, as typical moose antlers rarely exceed 8 to 12 points per side. Brown also fired five shots at the large animal, which glowered at him and stalked majestically away.
These accounts painted a consistent picture of the Specter Moose:
- Size: Towering at 10 to 15 feet tall and weighing an estimated 2,500 pounds, it dwarfed the average Maine moose, which at the time weighed around 800-900 pounds and stood about six feet tall.
- Antlers: Boasting an immense rack that stretched 10 to 12 feet across, far exceeding the typical four-to-six-foot span of a normal moose.
- Color: Exhibiting a white or light gray coat, setting it apart from the common dark brown coloration of its brethren.
National Attention and Continued Sightings
The legend of the Specter Moose transcended local boundaries when it was featured in a New York Times article in November 1899. This exposure sparked further interest and led to additional sightings.
In 1906, George Kneeland of Sherman, Maine, had a startling encounter while bicycling between Sherman and Macwahoc. Initially mistaking the creature for a horse, Kneeland was shocked to discover it was a massive white moose. The moose charged at him, forcing Kneeland to scramble up a tree for safety. After briefly investigating the abandoned bicycle, the moose disappeared into the woods.
Mystical Attributes and Anomalous Behavior
Beyond its sheer size and unusual coloration, the Specter Moose was often attributed with supernatural qualities. Reports described it as glowing faintly, possessing the ability to vanish into thin air, and even walking through solid objects. Hunters lamented that they could never get close enough for a clean shot, and on the rare occasions they did, the animal seemed impervious to bullets.
The sightings of the Specter Moose ebbed and flowed over the years. One such wave occurred in 1917, followed by a period of relative quiet before resurfacing again.
Skeptical Explanations vs. Local Belief
Naturally, the legend of the Specter Moose has attracted its share of skepticism. Some suggest that the sightings are simply cases of albinism in moose. While albino moose do exist, they are exceptionally rare and typically have pink eyes – a trait not associated with the Specter Moose, which is consistently described as having brown eyes.
Others propose that the moose might suffer from a condition caused by winter ticks, which can lighten an animal’s coat. However, this condition also leads to significant hair loss and emaciation, which doesn’t align with the descriptions of the Specter Moose as a robust, powerful creature.
Despite the skeptical explanations, the legend persists in Maine, deeply ingrained in the local culture and folklore.
Further Tales and Omens
The Specter Moose continued to be sighted sporadically, with notable clusters of reports in 1932 and 1938. During the latter period, many sightings occurred in the Chesuncook region along the Penobscot River’s west branch.
One particularly vivid account comes from a hunter named Houston, who observed a herd of about 16 moose. Among them were three males, two of which were large and healthy. However, the third male was of immense size, dwarfing the others, and possessed a luminous white coloration. When Houston briefly turned away and looked back, the giant white moose had vanished without a trace.
Other tales are even more bizarre. One story tells of hunters near Molunkus Stream who killed a white moose, slit its throat, and hung it from a tree overnight to prepare it for skinning. The following morning, the moose was gone. That night, the same dead and vanished moose walked into their camp with its throat still cut. The hunters shot at it again, but the moose was unfazed and walked away. It was later seen near Ashland, some 90 miles to the north, at which time it was shot again with no effect.
Some locals believe the Specter Moose is an omen, appearing when misfortune is imminent. For example, some residents of Franklin claimed to have seen the moose shortly before the town’s restaurant burned down in 2002.
A Lasting Enigma
The Specter Moose of Maine remains an enduring mystery. Is it merely an unusually large and pale moose, or is it something more – a mystical, spectral being that has haunted the Maine wilderness for over a century?
Whatever the truth may be, the legend of the Specter Moose continues to capture the imagination, adding a layer of intrigue and wonder to the already captivating landscape of Maine. It serves as a reminder that even in the modern age, there are still mysteries that defy explanation, and legends that continue to thrive in the hearts and minds of those who call the North Woods home.