the Moose, or as it is called in Eurasia, the Elk,
is a herbivore growing from 1.5 to 2.3 meters at the shoulders, weighing up to 500 to 600 kgs.
The male grows antlers which it sheds yearly, growing bigger ones next Spring.
The female, somewhat smaller than the male, does not have antlers, and selects a breeding male in accordance to the size of his rack.
Wild skirmishes between competing adult males for the pleasure of the lady's company sometimes develop and the crashing of their antlers can be heard for long distances throughout the bush.
Its favourite food are the roots of water lilies, but it also feeds on any greenery available to it at any time.
A male Moose becomes aggressive particularly in Fall, at rutting period, and only if it feels threatened.
All of the above is well known to any of my Canadian readers and is specifically intended to inform my Austrian friends.
So enough of this learned talk! Let's look at a few pictures:
A very large male.
I recommend to stay out of his way,
particularly during the rutting season.
This Eightender is busy digging up roots of
the water Lily and if you drift too close in your canoe
he might consider you a competitor for his afternoon snack
and throw a mock charge.
Moose are good swimmers and have been observed crossing good sized lakes.
This bull is probably the largest I have ever seen.
I estimated his size at least at 2.5 meters at the shoulders
and his bulk would probably tip the scales at the 650 to 700 kilograms.
Bertstravels.
No comments:
Post a Comment