Moose are the largest of all the deer species. Males are
immediately recognizable by their huge antlers, which can spread 6 feet
(1.8 meters) from end to end. Moose have long faces and muzzles that
dangle over their chins. A flap of skin known as a bell sways beneath
each moose's throat.
Moose are so tall that they prefer to browse
higher grasses and shrubs because lowering their heads to ground level
can be difficult. In winter they eat shrubs and pinecones, but they also
scrape snow with their large hooves to clear areas for browsing on
mosses and lichens. These hooves also act as snowshoes to support the
heavy animals in soft snow and in muddy or marshy ground.
In
summer, food is far more plentiful in the northern regions of North
America, Europe, and Asia. When the ice melts, moose are often seen in
lakes, rivers, or wetlands, feeding on aquatic plants both at and below
the surface. Moose are at home in the water and, despite their
staggering bulk, are good swimmers. They have been seen paddling several
miles at a time, and will even submerge completely, staying under for
30 seconds or more.
Moose are similarly nimble on land. They can
run up to 35 miles (56 kilometers) an hour over short distances, and
trot steadily at 20 miles (32 kilometers) an hour.
Males, called
bulls, bellow loudly to attract mates each September and October. The
usually solitary bulls may come together at this time to battle with
their antlers for mating supremacy. After mating, the two sexes go their
separate ways until the following year. Though they may occasionally
feed in the same grounds, they tend to ignore each other.
Females
give birth to one or two calves in the spring—each weighing some 30
pounds (14 kilograms). These calves grow quickly and can outrun a person
by the time they are just five days old. Young moose stay with their
mothers until the following mating season.
