Pitchwood Island, Lake Winnipesaukee, NH -- mid-1990's
Moose Facts
Credit: UNH Wildlife Profiles
Written by Ellen J. Snyder, Extension Specialist, Wildlife, UNH Cooperative
Extension and Kristine Bontaitis, Wildlife Biologist, NH Fish and Game
Department.
Desktop publishing provided by UNHCE Educational Marketing and Information
Office, University of New Hampshire
Moose FactsWildlife Profiles, Univ. of New Hampshire Extension Web Site
Moose
(Alces alces)
Description:
Moose are big. An adult moose, averaging 1000 pounds and standing 6 feet
at the shoulder, is the largest wild animal in North America. Moose have
keen senses of smell and hearing, but they're also near-sighted. Their
front legs are longer than their hind legs, allowing them to jump over
fallen trees, slash, and other debris. Moose, like deer, lack a set of
upper incisors; they strip off browse and bark rather than snipping it
neatly. Bulls and cows have different coloration patterns. Bulls have a
dark brown or black muzzle, while the cows face is light brown. Cows also
have a white patch of fur just beneath their tail.
Only bulls grow antlers. Antler growth begins in March or April and is
completed by August or September when the velvet is shed. Antlers are
droppe4 starting in December; young bulls may retain their antlers into
early spring. Yearlings develop a spike or fork; adults develop antlers that
may weigh up60 pounds with wide sweeping palms with many long tines. The
bell the flap of skin and long hair that hangs from the throat, is more
pronounced in adult bulls than in cows or immature bulls.
Range and Distribution:
Moose occur in Alaska, Canada, northern U.S. from North Dakota across to
northern New England, and the northern Rockies south to Utah. Prior to
European settlement moose were more common than deer in New Hampshire; their
range extended from the Canadian border to the seacoast. By the mid-1800's
fewer than15 moose existed in the state. The small number and loss of
habitat slowed the recovery of the moose population. The moose herd didn't
begin to rebound noticeably until the early 1970's. By this time, abandoned
farmlands and changes in forest practices created a mosaic of mature and
young re-growing forests providing excellent moose habitat. Today there are
some 9,600 moose in New Hampshire, occurring in all ten counties with
highest densities in the Great North Woods. During a year moose home ranges
vary from 5 square miles to more than 50 depending on the season.
Habits and Habitats:
The breeding season or rut extends from mid-September through mid-October.
In the northeast moose don't form permanent pair bonds. The bull stays with
the cow only long enough to breed, then he leaves in pursuit of another cow.
Both bulls and cows travel more during this time in pursuit of a mate. 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. Bull moose don't feed during
the rut and lose considerable weight. After the rut several bulls may be
seen eating together fattening up for the upcoming winter.
Unlike bulls, cows breed at the age of 1 1/2 years. They give birth, at age
two, to one calf. Twins are common after a cow reaches age four (triplets
are rare but do occur in the state). Cows have been known to kill wolves,
grizzlies, black bear, and people in defense of their calves. A yearling
calf will stay with its mother until new calves are born. Calves are born in
late May or early June weighing 20-25 pounds. They're reddish brown in color
with no spots. By fall they weigh 3-400 pounds. Moose may live more than 20
years but they also die from several causes including collisions with
automobiles.
Each year nearly 200 moose are killed on our highways. Their dark coloration
blends well with dark pavement. To avoid collisions, drive slow enough at
night and dusk so you can stop within the limits of your headlights
illumination.
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. Moose are susceptible to a tiny parasite known as
brainworm. White-tailed deer carry the parasite, although they're
unaffected. The parasite passes from deer feces to a land snail to the moose
which ingest the snail while feeding on browse. Moose usually die from this
infection. Moose also die from severe infestations of 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.
Food Habits and Habitat:
Moose is an Algonquin term for "eater of twigs." 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
favor willows, birches, aspens, maples, fir, and viburnums, in the fall they
begin feeding on the bark of some hardwoods, particularly maples and aspens.
In the winter moose feed on the buds and new woody growth of these plants.
Moose feed heavily on sodium-rich aquatic plants in summer. Cows also prefer
to keep their calves near water as an escape route for their calves. Ponds
are used by both sexes to escape from moose flies and other pesky insects.
Moose wallows form in wet areas on the sides of highways where road salt
accumulates. Moose visit these areas to drink the salty water thereby
satisfying their salt requirements. Bull moose create wallows by pawing out
depressions then urinating in them. Bulls and cows will roll in the wallow
during the breeding season.
Management:
Areas that provide large amounts of nutritious browse benefit moose. Forest
fires induce significantly more nutritious re-growth than that produced by a
chain saw. In the absence of fire, clear-cuts provide browse in abundance.
Large clear cuts (more than 100 acres) don't benefit moose as much as
smaller, dispersed cuts. Islands of uncut softwood and hardwood within large
clear-cuts are utilized by moose in the winter. Moose use clear-cuts until
the plants grow beyond their reach, in 10-30 years. They avoid dense
clear-cuts that restrict their movement and visibility. Beaver flowages are
used frequently by moose. Aspen or willow in a range of successional stages
is valuable. A mosaic of upland mature mixed wood (primarily hardwoods with
a softwood component), regenerating clear-cuts or burned areas, and wetlands
offers good moose habitat.
Comments:
As moose continue to colonize the central and southern areas of the state
they come in contact more and more with people. Safe moose viewing is
essential; watch from a safe and respectful distance. Moose are bigger and
faster than any person and give little warning before attacking a perceived
threat. Cows are extremely protective of their calves. Bulls in the rut are
unpredictable. No one should ever approach these animals no matter how
tolerant they appear. Moose are unafraid, not friendly. A moose that decides
someone has crossed into their "personal space" will knock down the offender
and kick and stomp until the threat stops moving. Remember to "Brake for
Moose" when driving on our highways.
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