A gigantic bull moose called The Beast is a Wyoming wildlife gem that’s going to stay hidden.
The owners of the property where he lives, an undisclosed location in southwest Wyoming, don’t want their privacy disrupted or the bull harassed by mobs of gawkers.
Wildlife watcher and photographer Tanner Dunn of Orem, Utah, loves visiting Wyoming, and moose are his favorite animals.
He told Cowboy State Daily that through a mutual acquaintance, he gained the trust of the landowners, who granted him permission to come on the property to admire and photograph moose.
He discovered the giant bull last year and dubbed him The Beast.
Apparently before that, even the landowners weren’t aware he’d been around.
“This guy was unreal to them, and he just blew away any of the other bulls in that area,” Dunn said.
He’s familiar with Wyoming’s celebrity moose, the titans of Grand Teton National Park. He feels blessed to have seen the famous bull Shoshone in 2021 and the Teton king, Hoback, in 2023.
“This bull, The Beast, is on par with Shoshone and Hoback,” Dunn said. “He might be about the size of Hoback. Maybe a tad smaller.”
Renowned wildlife photographer Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven has followed the Teton moose for many years. After seeing a photo of The Beast, he told Cowboy State Daily he agrees.
“This bull is definitely on par with the big bulls in the Tetons,” Vangoidtsenhoven said.
Different Lifestyles
The Teton bulls live in the spotlight. Their every appearance near roads draws crowds of admirers. And photos and videos of them taken by wildlife photographers flood social media.
The life milestones are met with widespread joy or sorrow.
Some observers say Hoback is starting to show his age, and his reign as the mightiest moose could be drawing to a close. He’s thought to be about 18; bull moose rarely live past 20 in the wild.
Proximity to admiring crowds can also be hazardous. Last fall, four Grand Teton moose were stuck and killed by vehicles, including a popular bull called Elk Antler.
The Beast doesn’t contend with any of that. Dunn is one of a very few allowed on the property to watch and photograph wildlife, and hunting isn’t allowed.
The area has everything The Beast needs: plenty of food and water, as well as cow moose to court during the rut, or mating season.
“I think he is smart enough to have figured out that he’s safe there,” he said.
Numerous hunters have seen his photographs of The Beast on social media. They’ve tried to convince Dunn to reveal the bull’s location, perhaps in hopes of catching him on adjoining land where hunting is allowed.
But Dunn won’t budge.
“I’m not against hunting if it’s ethical,” he said, but he doesn’t want The Beast getting shot either.
Vangoidtsenhoven said Teton moose seem to handle celebrity status well and aren’t terribly stressed.
“They have plenty of places to go to get away from roadside tourism. It does happen that a crowd forms, but moose seem to still typically go where they want. If someone is standing in their path, they assume the person will move,” he said.
‘Don’t Do Anything Stupid’
Dunn got hooked on moose after seeing a cow and calf together during a family trip to Estes Park, Colorado, about 20 years ago.
“I couldn’t believe how big they were. And I knew that if a cow moose was that big, bulls would be so much bigger,” he said.
He recalled the first time he saw The Beast last year. It was early in the year, and the bull was still “in velvet.”
His antlers were still covered in a velvet-like membrane, full of blood vessels that help the antlers grow.
Dunn was driving, hoping to spot some wildlife.
“He was lying down when I first saw him. I thought, “Am I just imagining things, because I want to see a moose so badly, or am I seeing a monster here?” he said.
Then, The Beast stood up, and Dunn was in awe.
“I thought, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me,’” he said.
During their first encounter, “he gave me a side-eye, almost like he was saying, ‘Don’t do anything stupid,’” Dunn said.
Dunn stays at a respectful distance and says The Beast has gotten used to his presence.
“He just goes on about his business, like I’m not even there,” he said.
‘Amateurs’
With everything he needs close at hand (or hoof) and no real threats, the beast seems calm most of the time, Dunn said.
“He knows he’s the alpha in that area. The only time I see him get worked up is if another bull tries to move in on his cows,” he said.
He recalled an amusing episode: Two yearling bulls sparring and trying to get in touch with each other, while The Beast watched from a distance.
“He was in the background looking at them like he was thinking, ‘amateurs.'” This is ridiculous,’” Dunn said.
Although Dunn loves Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, he appreciates the peace and quiet of The Beast’s realm.
In the crowded parks, “there are always those people who are a bit overzealous and think it’s a petting zoo,” he said.
Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.