The Western moose (Alces alces andersoni ) is a subspecies of moose. It is the second largest North American subspecies of moose, second to the Alaskan moose. This subspecies is prey to timber wolves, bears.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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HerbivoreA herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example, foliage, for the main component of its die...
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FolivoreIn zoology, a folivore is a herbivore that specializes in eating leaves. Mature leaves contain a high proportion of hard-to-digest cellulose, less ...
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ViviparousAmong animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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CursorialA cursorial organism is one that is adapted specifically to run. An animal can be considered cursorial if it has the ability to run fast (e.g. chee...
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BrowsingBrowsing is a type of herbivory in which an herbivore (or, more narrowly defined, a folivore) feeds on leaves, soft shoots, or fruits of high-growi...
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PrecocialPrecocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normall...
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PolygynyPolygyny is a mating system in which one male lives and mates with multiple females but each female only mates with a single male.
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SolitaryDo
Dominance hierarchyA dominance hierarchy (formerly and colloquially called a pecking order) is a type of social hierarchy that arises when members of animal social gr...
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withMale Western moose stand anywhere from 1.9 to 2.0 metres (6.2 to 6.6 ft) at the shoulder. Their antlers span 1.5 to 1.7 metres (4.9 to 5.6 ft) and they weigh anywhere from 380–720 kilograms (840–1,590 lb). Female Western moose stand at 1.8 metres (5 ft 11 in) on average, and weigh anywhere from 270 to 360 kilograms (600 to 790 lb).
Western moose are found in British Columbia, eastern Yukon, Northwest Territories, southwestern Nunavut, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, western Ontario, the upper peninsula of Michigan, northern Wisconsin, northern Minnesota, and northeastern North Dakota. These animals live in boreal forests and temperate broadleaf and mixed forests. Moose require a habitat with adequate edible plants (e.g., pond grasses, young trees, and shrubs), cover from predators, and protection from extremely hot or cold weather.
Moose are diurnal animals. They do not form herds and usually spend time singly aside from females with their calves. Although generally slow-moving and sedentary, moose can become aggressive, and move quickly if angered or startled. They browse by day carefully selecting their favorite food. Moose are excellent swimmers and often wade into the water to eat aquatic plants. This trait serves a second purpose in cooling down the animal on summer days and ridding itself of black flies. Moose are thus attracted to marshes and river banks during warmer months as both provide suitable vegetation to eat and water to wet themselves in. They are able to dive over 5.5 meters (18 ft) to reach plants on lake bottoms, and the complex snout may assist them in this type of feeding. Moose are the only deer that are capable of feeding underwater. As an adaptation for feeding on plants underwater, their noses are equipped with fatty pads and muscles that close the nostrils when exposed to water pressure, preventing water from entering the nose.
Moose are herbivorous (folivorous) animals that consume many types of plants or fruit. Much of their diet consists of forbs and other non-grasses, and fresh shoots from trees such as willow and birch. As much as half of their diet usually consists of aquatic plants, including lilies and pondweed. In winter, moose are often drawn to roadways, to lick salt that is used as a snow and ice melter.
Moose are polygynous and males will seek several females to breed with. During the rut which takes place in autumn and winter, mature bulls will cease feeding completely for a period of approximately two weeks. During the rut, both sexes will call to each other. Males produce heavy grunting sounds that can be heard from up to 500 meters (1,600 ft) away, while females produce wail-like sounds. Males will fight for access to females. Initially, the males assess which of them is dominant and one bull may retreat, however, the interaction can escalate to a fight using their antlers. Females have an 8-month gestation period, usually bearing one calf, or twins if food is plentiful. Newborn calves have fur with a reddish hue in contrast to the brown appearance of an adult. A female may attack if she feels that her calves are threatened, although, at around 10-11 months yearling Western moose are chased off by their mothers to fend for themselves.
Habitat degradation and hunting are the major threats to these beautiful animals. Moose are hunted for meat as well as for sport and as an ecotourism activity. Predation of calves by Brown bears also poses a serious threat to moose populations.
According to Wikipedia resource, the total population size of the Western moose is about 950,000 individuals. Currently, the moose species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are increasing.
Through browsing, moose have a dramatic effect on plant communities and may inhibit the reforestation of pine and spruce forests, thus having a possible negative effect on the timber industry.
