Moose
For the other deer species called elk, see Wapiti.| Moose | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||||||||||||||||
| Alces alces | |||||||||||||||||
| Conservation status | |||||||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | |||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | |||||||||||||||||
| Alces alces (Linnaeus, 1758) |
|||||||||||||||||
A moose (Alces alces) (called elk in Europe) is a mammal of the deer family. A male moose is called a bull, a female moose is called a cow, and a young moose is called a calf. A group of moose is called a herd. The plural of moose is "moose" (such as: There was one moose in the forest / There were two moose in the forest.).
Contents |
[change] Appearance
Moose are about 3 meters long and about 2 meters / 6.5 feet tall. Males usually weigh about 500 kilograms / 1,100 pounds, and females weigh about 400 kilograms / 880 pounds. The moose has a fur coat colored between reddish-brown and blackish-brown. In winter, their fur becomes a grayish color. Moose have a flap of skin hanging from their throats, which is called a "bell". Male moose have large antlers. These antlers fall off before winter. In the spring the antlers grow back again. Female moose do not have antlers.
[change] Range
The moose lives across North America to northern Europe to Siberia. In Europe they live in Finland, Sweden, Norway and the Baltic countries (Estonia ,Latvia and Lithuania). In north America they live in Canada, Alaska and little bit USA. In 2008 they have been re-introduced to Scottish Highlands from Scandinavia.
[change] Habitat
Moose live in northern Europe, Asia, and in North America. Moose usually live in areas with lakes, marshes and swamps.They also live in moutains like Alaska and Canada.
[change] Population
Finland in 2008 there were about 264,000 moose in Finland.
[change] Life
Moose are active during the day. They live alone, but in winter they sometimes form small groups. Moose eat grass, leaves, twigs, willow, birch, maple shoots and water plants. After a pregnancy of 8 months, the female gives birth to 1 or 2 babies. Females begin to have babies when they are 2 or 3 years old. Young moose stay with their mother for a year; after one year they leave and live alone. Moose usually become 15 years old, but they can become up to 27 years old. A mother moose will aggressively protect her young. Their enemies are bears and wolves, who hunt moose calves.
[change] Moose and humans
Moose have been hunted by humans for a very long time, since the Stone Age.
Because of their dark coloured fur, Moose are sometimes hit by cars since they are hard to see when they are crossing roads at night. In some countries like Canada, Finland and Sweden they have a moose sign and have fences around motorways.
[change] Other websites
