Moose

Share Top Five March 15, 2019

The moose (North America) or elk (Eurasia), Alces alces is a member of the New World deer subfamily and is the largest and heaviest extant species in the Deer family. Moose are distinguished by the broad, palmate (open-hand shaped) antlers of the males; other members of the deer family have antlers with a dendritic (“twig-like”) configuration. Moose typically inhabit boreal forests and temperate broadleaf and mixed forests of the Northern Hemisphere in temperate to subarctic climates. Hunting and other human activities have caused a reduction in the size of the moose’s range over time. Moose have been reintroduced to some of their former habitats. Currently, most moose are found in Canada, Alaska, New England (with Maine having the most of the lower 48 states), Fennoscandia, Baltic states, and Russia. Their diet consists of both terrestrial and aquatic vegetation. The most common moose predators are the gray wolf along with bears and humans. Unlike most other deer species, moose do not form herds and are solitary animals, aside from calves who remain with their mother until the cow begins estrus (typically at 18 months after birth of the calf), at which point the cow chases away young bulls. Although generally slow-moving and sedentary, moose can become aggressive and move quickly if angered or startled. Their mating season in the autumn features energetic fights between males competing for a female,More info:wiki

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#10 Moose,More info:nps

Moose (Alces alces) are the largest member of the deer family. They, along with caribou, are the only members of the deer family in the Lake Clark area. Moose are found below treeline in transition areas between forest and tundra, between aquatic and terrestrial environments, and in areas that have been burned or disturbed.

An adult male (bull) moose can weigh as much as 1,600 pounds and females (cows) can reach 1,300 pounds. They have extremely long legs that enable them to wade into lakes and rivers and through deep snow. Their hair ranges from golden brown to nearly black and they have a very large head with a dewlap of skin, called a “bell,” under the chin.

#9 A Sharply Reduced Vermont Moose Hunt Gets Preliminary Approval,More info:sevendaysvt

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Board gave preliminary approval Wednesday night to issuing 14 moose hunting permits for the coming season — a mere fraction of last year’s number and a reflection of the declining herd.

State biologists proposed the dramatic drop from 70 permits issued last year. Since 2005, the moose population has shrunk from about 4,800 to 1,700. Tick infestation, warmer winters and other factors are believed to be harming the population of the lumbering creatures.

Given their struggling status, even 14 permits is too many and the hunt should stop, some say. It’s baffling why the Fish & Wildlife Department “continues to feel the need to put hunting pressures on a species that is truly imperiled in Vermont,” said Walter Medwid, founding member of the Vermont Wildlife Coalition.

#8 Alaska moose poacher fined $100,000, sentenced to jail,More info:foxnews

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Alaska man who poached three moose and left most of the meat to rot has been sentenced to nine months in jail and fined more than $100,000.

Rusty Counts, 39, of Anchor Point, shot the moose near his community over two weeks in September. He pleaded guilty Nov. 6 to 21 misdemeanor wildlife counts and violations, including wanton waste, exceeding bag limits and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Hunting regulations near the Kenai Peninsula community require moose to have antlers measuring 50-inches (127-centimeters) wide to be harvested. None of the three moose had the required spread, said Aaron Peterson, an assistant attorney general who prosecuted the case.

#7 Isle Royale’s exploding moose population could double in next 4 years,More info:mlive

#6 Motorcyclists injured after colliding with moose in northern Minnesota,More info:bringmethenews

#5 Moose in Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks,More info:yellowstonepark

This largest member of the deer family loves cold weather and frequents marshy meadows and edges of lakes and streams. About 800 moose inhabit the southern part of Yellowstone, Grand Teton National Park and surrounding national forests.

Moose are most heavily concentrated in Grand Teton Park. Look for them at Willow Flats, Christian Pond (near Willow Flats) and around Oxbow Bend.

In Yellowstone, see them in Willow Park, between Norris Junction and Mammoth Hot Springs. Also check out the Yellowstone Lake, Fishing Bridge and Hayden Valley regions.

#4 The Symbol of Canada’s Native Wildlife: Facts About the Moose,More info:animalsake

Moose is the largest existing animal belonging to the deer family. Male moose has characteristic huge flattened palm-shaped antlers. Antlers are different from horns. While growing, they are covered with velvet like skin which provides essential nutrients to the soft and tender antlers. Once the antlers (bones) become hard, the velvet is shed. Later in winter, antlers are also shed and new antlers grow again! Horns are never shed. Moose facts inform us that in winter, older males shed their antlers before the younger ones. Some more interesting facts are presented below.