Many people love moose. Their large, but yet seemingly adorable appearance, makes them endearing. Looking at them some will be amused that their bulky stature gives them an almost clumsy and awkward movement. But moose are actually fairly fascinating creatures with many hidden talents. Today, we at Carve Me A Bear Chainsaw Carvings would like to shine the spotlight on moose.
Size; What Do Moose Look Like?
The American Moose is not only the largest member of the deer family, but it is one of the largest mammals in North America on land. The adult moose can reach over seven feet high. Short dark brown fur coves their enormous bodies. The moose has a long square face and large ears along with a flap of skin, known as a bell, just beneath their throat that sways. From tip to tip, the width span of the male’s can measure over six feet. Following the end of the breeding season, in the fall and early winter moose will shed their antlers. Male moose will then grow a new set of antlers that were larger than the previous year’s rack; a cycle that occurs every year. The females are fairly smaller than males and do not grow antlers.
Habitat; Where Do Moose Live?
Throughout northern areas of North America moose are found, especially across Alaska, Canada, the northeastern United States, as well as heading south as far as the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. Where there are willows, moose typically dwell in forests near ponds, streams, or lakes. Though they are expanding their range, moose found in Washington are mostly limited to the northeastern corner and the northeast Cascades.
Diet; What Do Moose Eat?
Moose are herbivores and their diet generally includes bark, roots, twigs, and the shoots of woody plants. They seem to favor willows and aspens. However, when the weather is warm, moose will munch on water plants such as pondweed, water lilies, and horsetails. During the cold winters, moose will survive on conifers, or evergreen trees.
How Fast Can a Moose Run & Do They Like Swimming?
Though their activity peaks during dawn and dusk, moose are active throughout the day. As good swimmers, moose will often be found indulging in water activities in streams. Moose are exceptionally fast and can move quite swiftly on land, running at speeds up 35 MPH. Even at a steady trot, which is still quicker than the speed of an average man, moose can move at 20 MPH. Moose are solitary animals and live independently. However, two more individuals can sometimes be found feeding or drinking at the same stream. Additionally, the bond between a calf and the mother is a very strong social one.
Moose Mating Call & Reproduction
Each September and October, the bulls, or males, will bellow loudly to attract a mate. Though living as solitary creatures normally, they will abandon living alone and come together during the mating season. Males will often use their antlers to battle other male suitors and the victor will get to mate with the female. By the spring, the females will give birth to one or two calves, with each calf weighing approximately 30 pounds at birth on average. Over the first year, the young will stay with their mother and grow quickly. Their average lifespan in the wild can range between 8 and 12 years, and if a group of moose are found together during the mating season, they are referenced as a herd.
Moose Chainsaw Art & Carvings in Las Vegas, Nevada & Helena, Montana
If you or a loved one has a soft spot for moose, call Carve Me A Bear Chainsaw Carvings for your unique moose chainsaw carving or even discuss options for your customized sculpture.
