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Moose - No More A Beast Than You And I
Learning to understand a moose is a positive step
in the
right direction. Moose are truly magnificent creatures that
have
served man well in history. They were creatures men would
ride
into battle and loving friends to their riders. (1)
Will
a Moose Charge you?
Well, I think the question is, why are you that
close to
a moose? Moose are not normally aggressive creatures but the
cow
(like most mothers) will protect her young, to the extent of possibly
killing. (2)
The male moose, will become very aggressive during mating
season.
Under normal circumstances moose are very timid and shy but
they
are wild animals and should be treated with respect and caution.
Question: So
how do you stop a moose from
charging? (joke
answers at bottom right hand column)
When
Is Rutting Season?
The bull moose will shed his antlers every winter.
By spring, they have new antlers growing covered
with a soft velvet material. With the arrival of autumn, the
velvet begins to shed from the antlers. Although all bull
moose will shed this velvet, the older bulls will be first to shed and
first to mate. It is the shedding of the velvet covering that
begins the ritual moose rut as the moose will thrash their antlers in
the bush, which in turn will attract the cows and other moose.
Another sure tale sign of rutting season is the distinct odor the male
moose will sport. Bull moose will dig a rutting pit.(3)
Once completed ( 2 to 3 inches deep and approximately 2 feet
wide) the bull will urinate in the pit and then proceed to splash
himself with his own urine. Once he has managed to get some urine on
his
antlers, head and dewlap, it's odor will fill the air.
If there is cow moose in the area, the scent will
encourage ovulation and the cow will enter into heat.
Rutting season is also time for conflict between bull moose. When two
or more bull moose are in the same area as a cow, it is common
for them to fight over the right to breed the cow.
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Gestation
Period and Moose
Parenting
The cow moose will raise her young as single parent .
Conceiving
in
the fall, the cow will carry her offspring for 8 months (230 days), giving birth
during the spring of the year. The cow may give birth up to
three
calves, which she will nurse, protect and interact with all on her own.
Pending on if it is a multiple birth, a calf can
weigh
from 23 pounds up to 34 pounds at birth. (4)
Although they first start out very small, the moose calf can
grow very quickly, packing on up to one pound per day in weight.
During the first few days, it's the mothers protective
instinct
to keep her young hidden in secluded area's to hide them from prey.
Once the calf is stronger, she will then start to branch out
from
safety as they are now faster than a human and capable of swimming if
needed.
Question: What does a cow moose read to her young?
What Does A Moose Do
All Day?
Generally, moose like to hang out
where there
is food, water, safety, protection from weather and privacy.
Where you find a moose in the summer, may not be where he or
she
will be during the winter months. During the warmer months,
moose
prefer to be new water, where they can cool themselves down from the
hot days. They also enjoy the foods in the wet areas and have
an
easier time escaping predators. During the winter months,
moose
face many problems and moving is necessary for survival.
Question: What does a teen moose do
all day?
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Moose
Sporting
Events
Did you know a moose can run at speeds of up
to 35
miles an hour. They can run that pace for up to 15 miles without
stopping for a rest.
Moose can swim ten miles in a session at the speed of 6 miles per hour.
They are also able to dive into depths of 20 feet of water.
Moose can also float on, thanks to the hollow hair. (5)
Enemies
of Moose
Why on earth would anyone hate a moose? Well, hate is not
necessary for a moose to have enemies. Wolves, bears,
insects and humans are the biggest danger to moose.
Brainworm, a parasite carried by white tail-deer, can be fatal to
a moose's nervous system. The parasite is transfered from
deer
droppings onto plant vegetation and consumed by moose. (6)
What
You Might See A Moose Eat
You might be more apt to see moose eating twigs,
leaves,
aquatic plants, willows, water lilies, bark, my neighbor's shrubs,
ground plants and trees. Moose do not eat donuts, french
fries,
burgers or any other foods that you might buy at a fast food place.
Question: What is a moose's favorite
chocolate bar?
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What
Countries
Have Moose
Moose live in Asia, United States, Canada, Canada and Europe. (From Norway, Sweden and Finland
to Russia and Siberia)
There are seven subspecies of moose in the world.
1. The Yukon Moose - Alces
alces gigas
Largest of the moose
species
2.
Eastern Canadian Moose - Alces
alces americana
Only a slight
difference to the Western Canadian
Moose.
3. Western
Canadian Moose - Alces
alces andersoni
Bulls weight approx. 800
to 1000 pounds. Cows are
only 100 to 130 pounds lighter.
4. The European Moose - Alces
alces machlis
Legs are extremely long
and slender
5. Sharis Moose - Alces alces shirasi
The smallest of the moose species
6. North Siberian Elk - Alces
alces bedfordiae
Antlers are different than
North American Moose (7)
7. Siberian Moose - Alces
alces cameloides
Only found in eastern
Siberia, Mongolia and
Manchuria.
Other Interesting
Facts
- In Algonquin tongue, moose means eater of twigs.
- Moose have no upper teeth.
- In Europe and Asia, moose are referred to as
elk.
- From shoulder to ground, moose can range up to
six and a half feet tall.
- Some bull moose weigh in over 1600 pounds.
- Moose have excellent hearing.
- Only bull moose grow antlers.
- Older bull moose shed their antlers first
(normally
around December) and by the end of January, most bulls have shed their
antlers.
- Average life span of a moose is only five to
six year
but some but if healthy and avoids predators, it can live up to twenty
years of age.
- Moose are members of the deer family.
- The scientific name for moose is Alces alces.
- Winter tick infestation can cause a decrease in
moose population up to 50%.
- Moose are herbivores and eat only plants.
They can eat 40 to 60 pounds of plant life per day.
- Moose are ruminants, meaning they have the four
chambers in their stomach and they regurgitate food, re chew it and
swallow to allow better digestion.
- Tail size on a full grown adult moose is only 3
inches long.
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Moose spend a
lot of time eating. Moose have four chambers in
their stomach and they regurgitate and re-chew food that has
been breaking down in one of their stomach chambers.
Click picture to watch video
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This is a video of two bulls in the same area during rutting season.
Click picture to watch video
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These two calves are so cute. My favorite part is when the
one calf head bunts ....
no
spoiler here.
Click picture to watch video
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Beautiful animal. Be sure to check out the antlers on it.
______________________
More
Pictures
Photo
Credit:US Fish and Wildlife Service
Photo
Credit:US Fish and Wildlife Service
Photo
Credit:US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
______________________
Joke Answers
********
Question:
So how do you stop a moose from
charging?
Answer: Take away it's credit card.
***
Question: What does a cow moose read to her young?
Answer: Mother Moose Nursery Rhymes
***
Question: What does a teen moose do
all day?
Answer: Hang out with his friends and listen to moosic.
***
Question: What is a moose's
favorite
chocolate bar?
Answer: Three Moosketeers
Click
to watch a special video. New window will open
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