Moose

Natural Resources & Environment>Moose

Moose

Description:Their body is covered with black or very dark brown hair. They have a very large head with a dewlap of skin, called a “bell,” hanging down from the jaw. Moose have very long legs so they can wade into a lake and eat plants off the bottom. Their legs enable them to paw through deep snow to reach food in winter. They are the largest member of the deer family. Adult males are called bulls. Adult females are cows. Youngsters are calves. Moose are mainly found as singles or in small groups, not in large herds.
Weight/size: Adult males can weigh 900-1400 pounds, females 700-1100 pounds.
They have extremely long legs and stand 5-6 ½ feet at the shoulder.
Adult males have large antlers that curve upward and back. The antlers are palmate: a flattened area like the palm of your hand, with the fingers (tines) pointing up. The antlers are grown each spring and shed in early winter, after breeding season.

Range
Habitat
Diet
Reproduction
Notes of Interest

Range

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In Colorado, moose are most often found in North Park, but have been sighted in Middle Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, South Park, near Leadville, near Gunnison, near Yampa, northwest of Creede, south of Fraser, near Colorado Springs, and in Golden, west of Denver.

Courtesy of CDOW [Click here to view full size picture]

Habitat

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Moose live in forested areas that are often close to lakes and marshes. They are very territorial, will defend their space and rarely leave their home territory during winter.

Diet

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During the winter they are browsers mainly feeding on willows, also serves as shelter in the summer they graze on grasses, forbs, underwater vegetation, and bushes. They also graze on coniferous needles and deciduous leaves in the summer.

Reproduction

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Gestation period is about 8 months. Moose breed in late September and early October. The adult males spar with their antlers and can be extremely aggressive and dangerous. During breeding season is one of the few times they form small groups.

Notes of Interest

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Moose are excellent swimmers. In the winter they remain in their territory, often in willow marshes, and form “yards”- they create paths in the deep snow as they paw for food. Moose are very large, fast animals and are aggressive when disturbed.