by Alice Alces
This is a time of year when you might encounter a moose in Calgary, like the young female in the photo above, who I startled when rounding a corner on the bike path through Weaselhead. Moose calves are born in May or June and are not yet able to run as fast as their mothers.
With effects of hunting, predators like wolves, pressures from human activity or competition within their species, moose are looking for new habitat, so don’t be too surprised to see a moose in or around Calgary.
Moose are the largest and heaviest kind of deer and (after bison) the second largest land animal in North America. They can be unpredictable and defensive when surprised or bothered, especially when with calf or in the fall, when they are rutting and mating. At that time, the males might go two weeks without eating. They drop their horns shortly afterwards.
Moose need to eat a lot to gain weight and survive the winter. They do not have upper front teeth, but they have a tough tongue and gums. They typically feed on new growth from deciduous trees and other plants growing in and around the water but will also eat fireweed and bark. Their nostrils close when under water. Calves will stay with the mother until about 18 months of age.
After the mating season, males drop their antlers to conserve energy for the winter. A new set of antlers will then regrow in the spring. Antlers take three to five months to fully develop.
The coat of a moose has two layers—a top layer of long guard hairs and a soft woolly undercoat. The guard hairs are hollow and filled with air for better insulation, which also helps them stay afloat when swimming. Long legs allow them to wade easily through deep water or snow.
Moose are unpredictable. They are most likely to attack if annoyed or harassed, or if approached too closely. So, appreciate them from a distance.
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