James Clark and his dog, Starbuck, had just pulled into their friend Ted’s driveway in Alaska when they spotted something unusual.
Starbuck froze in the car, eyes locked on a giant creature standing right in front of them. Her instincts kicked in — was it a strange dog? A threat? Or… something completely new?
Clark, a lifelong Alaskan, is no stranger to wildlife. He quickly recognized the towering visitor, but Starbuck was clearly stumped. She studied the creature, unsure whether to be concerned or curious.
“She was big mad at what she probably thought was a large doggo,” Clark told The Dodo. “She growled, but didn’t bark.”
Curious and amused, Clark snapped a quick photo — but when he looked at it later, he couldn’t help but laugh. From that particular angle, the animal didn’t look anything like it was supposed to.
In fact, it looked like something straight out of a fantasy novel.
When he posted the photo online, reactions poured in. People saw all kinds of things: a seal centaur, a mythical beast, or some kind of furry alien.
“My favorite reactions have been from people explaining what they think they saw in the photo,” Clark said. “It’s been hilarious.”
Of course, the “mystery creature” was actually just a moose. A very real, very normal sight in Alaska — especially during the colder months when food becomes harder to find.
“I grew up in Anchorage,” Clark explained, “and moose encounters aren’t unusual, especially in winter when they forage for scarce food.”
This particular moose was simply enjoying some birch tree buds, stretching her neck upward in just the right (or wrong) way to confuse cameras and canines alike.
Even though the moose was just minding her own business, Starbuck still wasn’t a huge fan. She couldn’t quite figure out what her deal was.
“My dog was big mad at what she probably thought was a large doggo,” Clark said. “She growled but didn't bark.”
Eventually, the moose wandered off into nearby yards, resuming her calm, routine day. But for Clark — and Starbuck — the encounter turned into an unexpectedly funny moment.
And for the internet? A delightfully weird photo that sparked plenty of joy and wild guesses.
