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The
Moose is most dangerous when it is protecting it's young.
It is also dangerous to startle them! And you never know
what a bull moose will do during mating season, so please
use extreme caution when getting close to one. Viewing a
moose from your vehicle is least stressful to the moose,
and safest for you. If you should happen to come upon the
moose in the forest, move very slowly, and avoid any loud
noises or sudden movement. This will ensure an extended,
enjoyable observation, and will prevent the moose from injuring
itself or you. Moose eat all sorts of plant matter.
In the summer, moose wade and swim through marshes and lakes,
eating water plants. They also eat the tender shoots such
as birches, willow, or poplar. In the winter, they will
forage near the edges of forests, eating plant material
such as bark or branches. Only mature bull moose have antlers.
These antlers can very quickly grow to be very large size.
The rate of bone formation is the fastest known: up to one
inch a day. Moose shed their antlers before the winter each
year and grow them back in the spring. Why do they lose
their antlers, considering the amount of energy it takes
to grow them? One reason they might shed their antlers is
to make foraging in the winter easier. Another reason is
that the antlers each year are generally larger than the
year before. Starting over would allow the moose to expand
not only length, but also broadness and bulk.
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