Moose

Moose generally live singly or in small groups, although during the rut the groups may get as large as eight or 10 animals. Because moose normally have a small home range, without protection local populations may be quickly reduced if there is easy access for hunters.

The rut occurs from late September to November. During the rut, bulls will grunt and bellow, lock horns and push each other for dominance. The dewlap is used for communication, both by sight and smell. During the rut a bull will rub the cow with his chin ("chinning") and the dewlap transfers this bull's scent to the female. The size and shape of the dewlap may also be an indicator of dominance to other bulls, just as the size of antlers is. Gestation is about 8 months and usually a single calf is born in late May or June.

Long legs are an adaptation to the habitat and climate the moose lives in. Moose have little difficulty moving around in snow up to 27 in. (70 cm) deep, stepping over fallen trees, walking through muskeg and pushing through bush. Their hair is of two kinds: long guard hairs and a fine, dense undercoat, which allows them to live in the most severe winter conditions.

Antlers: The male's antlers have massive, shovel-like (palmate) plates with small prongs (tines) projecting forward from the borders. Their antlers begin to develop in late April, the velvet is usually shed by September and antlers are shed between mid-November and late March. As moose grow older, a lower (brow) palm develops, which protects the face during fights. Young bulls generally have two or three points but no palm. Antlers of older moose vary greatly in size and number of points but can spread 66 in. (168 cm) tip to tip. As with other deer, antlers are used during the rut for fighting to establish dominance.

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