So there I am, video camera in trembling hand, standing stock-still less than 10m from a huge cow moose and her calf.

It is early evening. The moose is munching contentedly at fenland shrubs. The calf is taking a break from chasing imaginary playmates around the fen, and is staring suspiciously at me, its ears pricked.

I am standing, fortunately upwind, surrounded by a bunch of ravenous female mosquitoes just waiting for my repellent to loose its effectiveness, on a trail in Elkwood Campground, in Peter Loughheed Provincial Park, Alberta, on the eastern flanks of the Rocky Mountains.

On the other loop of the trail a family of yahoos, ignoring the no-cycling sign, is making its way , screeching and laughing, along the far side of the fen. The moose raises her long head wearily, glances at me as if to say "Bloody humans!" and returns to her grazing. The calf runs nervously up to mummy.

After ten minutes I retreat, and soon afterwards the moose does the same, disturbed by the approaching humans. It is quite an experience.

Later in the day the campground manager explains that the moose can be even more dangerous than a grizzly bear if you get between her and her calf.