ARTICLES

The Moose

The moose is the largest member of the deer family. It is larger than any deer that lived in past ages. The largest kind of moose live in Alaska. Sometimes they grow seven and one-half feet high at the shoulder and weigh 1500 to 1800 pounds.

Moose make their homes in the Northern Hemisphere all around the world. In the Old World, they live from northern Scandinavia and northern Germany through Siberia to Amurland. Their American home takes in the region from Maine to Alaska and south through the Rocky Mountains to Wyoming. Outside of America, these animals are not called moose, but elk. The American elk is different. Its correct name is the "wapiti."

The moose has long legs, and has a hump over its shoulder. The upper part of the moose's muzzle hangs 3 or 4 inches over its chin. An unusual growth of skin covered with hair, called the "bell," hangs underneath its throat. The coat is brownish black on the upper parts. This dark color fades to a grayish brown on the belly and lower legs.

The bull moose has heavy, flattened antlers, or horns. The antlers on an unusually large moose spread 6 feet or more. Each antler has 6 to 12 short points which stick out like fingers from the palm of a huge hand. A moose sheds its antlers every year and grows a new pair. The antlers are full-grown by late August. The bull then strips off the dead skin, called "velvet," and polishes his great weapons against trees.

The mating season of the moose lasts from 4 to 8 weeks in the fall. The bull wanders around at this time searching for cows which call to any bull within hearing. The bull is likely to follow every sound to see whether it might be made by a cow or a rival bull. Moose hunters who know these habits sometimes try to lure the game within shooting range. They imitate the hoarse grunts of the bull or the love call of the cow through a horn or their cupped hands to attract their game.

Baby moose are born in late May or June. The mother carries them inside her body for about seven and one-half months before they are born. A cow may have one calf or twins. The calf is reddish brown without spots, and has long legs. After the first few weeks, it is strong enough to travel around with its mother. At this time, the bull stays by himself, or with other males.

Moose like best to live in forest land that has willow swamps and lakes in it. Here the animals spend the summer, and the cows care for their young.

Throughout this season, they often visit the water to get rid of flies and to feed on water plants. Moose are fine swimmers, and do not hesitate to cross lakes and rivers. They also like to roll in mud holes and eat the salty earth or salt licks. In the summer, their food includes leaves and tender twigs as well as grass and herbs. Moose have such short necks and long legs that they must straddle or get on their knees to eat low plants. They often stand up against young trees and bend the trees over with their great weight, so they can reach the tender leaves on top.

Moose stay together more in winter than in summer. Both males and females gather in small bands in swamps and woods. Here they find protection from the cold winds. They browse on the twigs and shoots of hardwood and fir trees, and on aspen bark. With their long legs, moose have little trouble walking in deep snow.

At one time, hunters had almost killed off all the moose in the eastern United States. Today, moose are protected by law in the United States and Canada.

Scientific Classification. Moose belong to the family Cervidae. The American moose is genus Alces, species americana. The European species of moose is called elk. It is A. alces.

The World Book Encyclopedia, Volume 12