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Moose Facts
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The word "moose" comes from the
Algonquin Indians. These were native people who lived
throughout the northern regions of Canada. The Algonquins
called this strange looking creature mooswa. It means
"twig-eater" or "the animal that strips bark off of trees."
Early explorers heard this work and through the years, it
eventually changed into "moose."
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For the Algonquins, the moose was
an important animal. It supplied them with food and other
things for their survival. Moose meat was a source of
nourishment during the long winters. The hide was used to make
clothing and provide shelter. And moose bones and antlers were
shaped into useful tools. (Information from "Our Wild
World" Series on Moose by Anthony D. Fredericks, published by
NorthWord Press, Chanhassen, Minnesota)
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The moose is the world's largest
deer. The moose can run 35 miles per hour and can easily swim
10 miles.
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Moose eat willow, birch and aspen
twigs, horsetail, sedges, roots, pond weeds and grasses. Moose
eat leaves, twigs, buds and the bark of some woody plants, as
well as lichens, aquatic plants and some of the taller
herbaceous land plants. Can actually feed under water.
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Moose are found in northern
forests in North America, Europe, and Russia. In Europe and
Asia, moose are called elk. (Information from the Wildlife
Heritage Foundation of Wyoming, Educational " Wildlife Flash
Cards" Series. The Foundations' e-mail:
wildlifeheritage@wyoming.com
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Hooves are the first line of
defense!
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While a male may use its antlers
to hold off a predator, a moose's sharp hooves are its first
line of defense. Moose are able to kick out in all directions,
but generally use their front feet.
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They're faster than they look!
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A moose's long legs allow it to
move easily over rough terrain and through deep snow. A moose
can run almost as fast as a horse, or about 30 miles per hour
for a short time period. (Information from "Living in Harmony
with Moose" page 5, Nancy Lord, Editor)
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Moose live for a long time.
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Cow moose have been known to live
for as long as 20 years. Bull moose may reach 15 years of
age. ("Living in Harmony with Moose")
How are antlers different than
horns?
Antlers, seen on male mule deer,
elk and moose, are solid bone. While the antlers are growing,
they are soft and tender and covered with a thin skin, called
velvet, which contains thousands of blood vessels. The velvet
supplies the antlers with calcium and other minerals for
building strong bones. Once the bone inside the velvet is hard,
the velvet is shed from the antlers and members of the deer
family are ready for their fall breeding season. Later in the
winter, the antlers are shed, and the growing process starts
again.
Horns, in contrast, are never shed.
They have no blood supply and are made of keratin-- a hard
protein which is also in fingernails and hair. This keratin
forms a tough outer layer over a bone which is permanently
attached to the skull. In Utah, horns are seen on both males and
females of bighorn sheep, bison, and mountain goats.
(Information from Project Wild, Utah, USA)
Old Bucket Nose
The moose is the largest member of
the deer family currently roaming the planet. The moose seems as
if it should belong to a different, larger scale of animal
because it dwarfs its commonly seen cousin the deer. They are
different from any of their equally proportionate relatives the
deer and elk. Moose are top heavy bearing most of their body
weight high in the air perched on four long legs.
The upper lip of the moose is oddly
larger than the rest of its face rounding off at the end,
resembles a bucket. Therefore earning the nickname Old Bucket
Nose. Moose also have a beard like a flap under their chin
called a dewlap or bell, male moose have large antlers that are
shaped like scoops that can measure 60” or better tip to tip and
can weigh in excess of 70 pounds. A full grown moose can weigh
up to 1,800 pounds and stand 7 feet tall at the shoulder, making
moose one of the northern hemispheres largest land dwelling
mammals.
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