Unbelievable Facts About Moose You Can't Miss!

Introduction

With antlers that can grow up to six feet long, the moose stands out as one of the most distinct looking creatures in the animal kingdom. Naturally inhabiting colder areas, moose have been an important source of clothing and food for the Native Americans of Alaska. Although they're typically gentle animals, moose can still pack a punch with their powerful hooves, striking with a weight heavier than the average motorbike. Aside from their antlers and size, what else is there to know about the world's biggest deer species?

Moose's Huge Appetite

Moose have huge appetites, typically consuming around 30 pounds of food daily in the winter and 70 pounds in the summer. As herbivores, their diet consists of different kinds of woody plants, shrubs, bark, and water plants. During winter, they eat buds of trees and plants. Male moose usually weigh double the average female. Female moose typically weigh around 360 kilograms while males can reach up to 700 kilograms. To put that into perspective, the average car weighs 1,700 kilograms. If you value your life, you steer clear of an angry male moose.

Speed and Dominance

The moose can run faster than humans, despite their weight. Moose can run as fast as 56 kilometers per hour and swim for 16 kilometers without stopping. Only male moose have dewlaps, which are the dangling flaps that look like loose skin under their chins. Bulls rub these on cows to scent mark them during mating season. The size of the dewlap may also indicate a moose's dominance level.

Global Moose Population

Canada has the most number of moose. Although Canada has the largest population, moose are also found in Alaska, New England, Venice Candia, the Baltics (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania), and Russia. Russia has the second largest population of moose, with around 600,000 moose. Canada holds approximately 500,000 to 1 million moose. The United States and Sweden follow at 300,000 each.

Solitary Creatures

Moose are one of the least social animals. Unlike other deer species, moose do not join herds. For the most part, moose are solitary animals, except for calves that remain with their mother until they no longer need them. Other than that, moose only socialize during mating season.

Prone to Infections

Moose can be dangerous opponents with their huge antlers and sharp hooves, but they also have natural predators. Bears and wolves usually pick off young, sick, and old moose. A single bite from these predators can cause infections that can kill even a healthy adult moose within two weeks.

Shortened Lifespan

Although moose could normally live up to 25 years, most moose today only tend to live around 10 years due to intensive hunting by humans. Hunters target male moose more than females. As a result, only up to 10 percent of bulls reach the age of five, while cows generally live 10 to 20 years old.

Plural of Moose

The plural form of moose is, well, moose. People often think that it's plural form is "mooses" or "mese," but this is actually not the case. Moose pregnancy lasts 243 days. In general, the moose's pregnancy period lasts 243 days. Female moose normally give birth to one or two calves, with a maximum of three on rare occasions. Female moose can gain up to 1.5 kilograms per day during pregnancy. At birth, the moose's calf weighs approximately 8 to 15 kilograms. During the first few months, they gain 1.5 kilograms a day.

Strong Divers

Moose can dive approximately 6 meters or 20 feet deep. They do this to reach the aquatic plants at the bottom of rivers and lakes. They also use their big nostrils as valves that keep the water out when diving, which is comparable to a snorkel.

Once a Primary Source of Clothing and Food

Historically, moose were consistently hunted for sustenance that their numbers declined by the mid-1800s. This was also because of the lack of laws protecting the species. Today, hunting moose is still legal in the United States but with heavy regulations.

The Biggest Moose ever Hunted

The biggest moose ever hunted in Alaska was recorded in September 1897 in Western Yukon. The moose stood 7.6 feet tall at the shoulder and weighed 820 kilograms or 1,807 pounds.

The Origins of "Moose"

The word "moose" came from the Algonquian languages. Moose are called "moose" in North American English, while it's called "elk" in British English. The term moose had first entered English in 1606.

Defense and Mating

Moose mostly use their hooves for defense. Their huge antlers may look like their main weapon, but they mostly use their sharp hooves to fight off predators. Combined with their weight and agility, moose are capable of seriously wounding a bear or wolf with their sharp hooves. Moose use their antlers to show off during the mating season. At autumn, males use their antlers to fight with other bull moose to flex to potential mates. Around this time, bulls scatter through the land looking for a female mate and establishing breeding territory. Size matters during these fights, but it is not always a fight to the death scenario. The competing moose usually backs out if the challenger has a greater rack of antlers.

Nutritional Value

Moose meat is high in protein and low in calories, making it perfect for those on a bulk protein diet. Moose meat only has 100 calories for every 100-gram serving and contains a hefty 22 grams of protein and essential amino acids that are good for your health. Moose meat is also high in potassium, low in sodium, and rich in vitamins and minerals. The meat doesn't have much fat, making it a healthy choice.

Survival in Harsh Environments

Moose thrive in cold places, thanks to their thick skin and dense heat-retaining coat, which provides them with superior cold tolerance. Although on the flip side, moose have poor heat tolerance. Adult moose can withstand temperatures lower than -30 degrees Celsius, whereas calves or baby moose start to feel the cold at -30 degrees Celsius. On warmer winter days, male moose would even lie in the snow to cool down. During hot weather, moose can survive by going to shaded areas and the coolest places possible. They also bathe in cool water and often walk or swim along lakes, rivers, and ponds.

Unique Digestive System

Moose have four-chambered stomachs, similar to cows. When feeding, moose partially regurgitate their digested food and chew the softened mixture. The food is fermented in the moose stomach's first chamber, while the new nutrients are extracted in the next three.

Gentle Giants Worth Protecting

Moose seldom become aggressive. Along with their solitary nature, moose are rarely aggressive. However, they will protect themselves if threatened and can easily be provoked during the mating season. Moose usually display aggressive behavior as a bluff and attack as a means to stay safe without the need to fight. Female moose don't grow antlers, which explains why males tend to be targeted more by poachers than females.

Alaska's State Animal

The moose is Alaska's state animal because of its history as the Alaskan Native Americans' main source of sustenance. The moose officially became Alaska's state animal on May 1, 1998.

Conclusion

Moose may be the picture of tranquility in isolated snowy places, but they're more powerful than they get credit for. Although they're not classified as endangered, illegal poaching still threatens their numbers. Moose have coexisted with humans for so long that they've left a mark on different cultures. So, it's only fair that humans leave a good legacy towards these gentle giants as well.

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