Moose

Description:

Moose are distinguished by the palmate antlers of the males. An adult moose, averaging 1,000 pounds and standing 6 feet at the shoulder. Bulls (male moose) have a dark brown or black muzzle, while the cows (female moose) face is light brown thick fur coat. Cows also have a white patch of fur just beneath their tail. Flap of skin and long hair that hangs from the throat, is more pronounced in adult bulls than in cows or immature bulls. A very pesky created that the moose has to share its body with is the winter ticks, moose attempt to remove ticks by scratching, licking, and rubbing often removing their hair at the same time. This can lead to secondary infections and hypothermia. One moose can carry 10,000 to 120,000 ticks. Moose also die as a result of collisions with automobiles. Ticks symbiotic relationship with the moose is parasitism because the tick is happy but the moose is not. White-tailed Deer are reddish-brown with a white belly and tail they live by and around the moose and pass on a parasite know as the brain worm the small deer are not effected but moose dies of infection in the brain. Both the moose and there close brother the white tailed deer front legs are longer than their hind legs, allowing them to jump over fallen trees, slash, and other debris allowing them to live in the dense cold forest. Moose, like deer, lack a set of upper sharp teeth so they strip off browse and bark rather than snipping it neatly. The big muscular moose is a mammal and usually only mature bulls five years or older breed. Bulls defend a cow they're pursuing, driving off younger bulls and sparring with more evenly matched opponents or youngsters bold enough to test their strength. Unlike bulls, cows breed at the age of 1 1/2 years. They give birth, at age two, usually to one calf.

Habitat:

Moose typically inhabit boreal and mixed deciduous forests of the Northern Hemisphere in temperate with cold long winters. Currently, most moose are found in Canada, Alaska, Scandinavia and Russia. Moose will eat almost anything primarily browsers feeding on leaves, twigs, and buds of hardwood and softwood trees and shrubs. A healthy moose will eat 40-60 pounds of browse daily.

Notes:

Moose are primarily browsers feeding on leaves, twigs, and buds of hardwood and softwood trees and shrubs. A healthy moose will eat 40-60 pounds of browse daily. Moose may live 20 years, but average lifespan is 10-12 years. Black bear are a significant predator on moose calves until calves are nine weeks old. By then calves can outmaneuver a bear. Coyotes may take an occasional calf. Most moose die to a tiny parasite known as brain worm.