Fauna Report

Towering at six to seven feet high and weighing 700-1,100 pounds the moose, Alces alces, can be found throughout the continent of North America. Being the largest member of the deer family the moose is known for its distinctive long legs, humped shoulders/back, long brown hair, and velvety antlers.

Since the moose is so unique it has many helpful niches that helps itself and other animals. As people observe this animal they are able to see how big the mammal is. This is helpful to other animals throughout the area because in the winter, as the moose travels through the snow, it packs it down which makes it less difficult for the smaller species to travel. Being helpful to small rodents as well by, once their antlers fall off (antlers can get as long as 150 cm) the rodents receive their calcium from them. Not only do moose help animals but also give assistance to plants. With one of their most reliable food sources being the willow, they are continuously eating the branches. This then makes the willows less bare and allows sunlight to reach the plants.

The moose’s physical characteristics also allows them to adapt to land and aquatic vegetation during the summer season. As lakes freeze and plants die, the moose’s food source in the winter is mainly willow, aspen, and dogwood trees. These are all easy access for the moose because they live in small forests with lakes and streams nearby. In the summer they eat more spruce forest and in the winter its areas with more aspen and willow trees. Although, both of these areas are habitats to wolves and bears which are the moose’s most dangerous predators.

Moose aren’t on the endangered species list quite yet due to their reproductive system. When the Bull Moose hears the calf moan it reacts to its signal and runs to find it. The male then mates with the female which usually takes one to two days. Before the Bull Moose leaves it urinates, and the calf rolls around in it which produces the baby cow. The baby cow will usually stay close with its mother until it is able to provide food and survive by itself. The moose is very exclusive, and an animal that hopefully will be roaming the earth for quite sometime.