More than once guests at the gate decide to come in only after being assured that the park has a moose. Of all the animals the park has on view, none is more popular. Largest of the deer family and largest animal in the Maine woods, the moose, someone said, looks as if it was designed by a committee. Be assured that each odd feature has a function. Those long legs are great for wading in a swamp, and the funny muzzle evolved to accommodate grazing on underwater plants without getting drowned.

The bears are putting on fat against a long winter but won't be going to bed until sometime in December. I've been told that they will stay up as long as they're being fed - all winter, if the grub keeps coming. The gamekeepers have to imitate nature and cut off the food supply at the appropriate time to send them to bed.

We hear that nearly as many grandparents (80) showed up this year on Grandparents' Day as did last year, in spite of the drizzle. We understand that this was the biggest year ever for the park. And it's not over yet. We still have the Nature Store Super Sale on October 6 to 8 (Columbus Day weekend), the Halloween Night Hike on October 26, 6 to 8 p.m., and the last Hurrah, Veteran's Free Day on closing day, November 11.