Changes

They are most abundant in recently burned areas that contain [[willow]] and [[birch]] shrubs, on timberline plateaus, and along major rivers. This is because they strip leaves and twigs off hardwood trees for food - moose eat 40-50 lbs of vegetation in a day. In winter they feed on balsam fir, but the nutritional value of this is too low to sustain them permanently. They also eat grass and lichen and other plants from the forest floor. They are ruminants that chew the cud like cows, and have a similar four-chambered stomach. Moose are good swimmers and can browse underwater on pondweed, underwater plants and water lilies, also submerging to protect themselves from biting insects.  

They are most abundant in recently burned areas that contain [[willow]] and [[birch]] shrubs, on timberline plateaus, and along major rivers. This is because they strip leaves and twigs off hardwood trees for food - moose eat 40-50 lbs of vegetation in a day. In winter they feed on balsam fir, but the nutritional value of this is too low to sustain them permanently. They also eat grass and lichen and other plants from the forest floor. They are ruminants that chew the cud like cows, and have a similar four-chambered stomach. Moose are good swimmers and can browse underwater on pondweed, underwater plants and water lilies, also submerging to protect themselves from biting insects.  

Moose are most active at dawn and dusk, and most likely to be seen near roads between mid-May and July, where they lick salt left on the roads from winter.<ref>http://portlandme.about.com/library/howto/htmoose.htm</ref> Moose are colour-blind, although they see well in low light. Because of their eye position, they have a large blind spot directly in front of them and have to roll their eyes forward to see things there. However, they can move both their eyes and ears independently of each other. They compensate for their poor eyesight by having excellent senses of hearing and smell.  

Moose are most active at dawn and dusk, and most likely to be seen near roads between mid-May and July, where they lick salt left on the roads from winter.<ref>http://portlandme.about.com/library/howto/htmoose.htm</ref> Moose are color-blind, although they see well in low light. Because of their eye position, they have a large blind spot directly in front of them and have to roll their eyes forward to see things there. However, they can move both their eyes and ears independently of each other. They compensate for their poor eyesight by having excellent senses of hearing and smell.  

Moose are long-legged and heavily bodied with a drooping [[nose]], a dewlap of loose flesh (called a 'bell') under their chin, and a tiny tail. Their color ranges from golden brown to almost black, depending upon the season and the age of the animal. The hair of newborn calves is generally reddish brown fading to a lighter rust color within a few weeks. Newborn calves weigh 28 to 35 pounds and within two months grow to over 400 pounds. Males in prime condition weigh from 1,200 to 1,600 pounds. Adult females weigh 800 to 1,300 pounds. Only the males moose have [[antlers]]. The plural of moose is moose. The largest moose antlers in North America usually come from [[Alaska]]. Trophy class moose are found throughout Alaska, but the largest come from the western portion of the state. Moose occasionally produce trophy-size antlers when they are 6 or 7 years old, but the largest antlers are grown at approximately 10 to 12 years of age. In the wild, moose rarely live more than 16 years.<ref>http://www.smouse.force9.co.uk/facts2.htm</ref>

Moose are long-legged and heavily bodied with a drooping [[nose]], a dewlap of loose flesh (called a 'bell') under their chin, and a tiny tail. Their color ranges from golden brown to almost black, depending upon the season and the age of the animal. The hair of newborn calves is generally reddish brown fading to a lighter rust color within a few weeks. Newborn calves weigh 28 to 35 pounds and within two months grow to over 400 pounds. Males in prime condition weigh from 1,200 to 1,600 pounds. Adult females weigh 800 to 1,300 pounds. Only the males moose have [[antlers]]. The plural of moose is moose. The largest moose antlers in North America usually come from [[Alaska]]. Trophy class moose are found throughout Alaska, but the largest come from the western portion of the state. Moose occasionally produce trophy-size antlers when they are 6 or 7 years old, but the largest antlers are grown at approximately 10 to 12 years of age. In the wild, moose rarely live more than 16 years.<ref>http://www.smouse.force9.co.uk/facts2.htm</ref>

==Moose in history==

==Moose in history==

According to the ''Life of Venerable Macarius of Unzha'', in 1439 the Miracle of the Moose saved the saint and his companions from starvation. While travelling, they ran out of food. They captured a trapped moose, but because it was a fast time Venerable Macarius made them cut its right ear off and release it instead of eating it, and told them the animal would come again at the Feast of St Peter and St Paul in three days’ time. When the day arrived, the moose duly returned in response to Macarius’ prayers, and surrendered itself for slaughter.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle_of_the_Moose</ref>

According to the ''Life of Venerable Macarius of Unzha'', in 1439 the Miracle of the Moose saved the saint and his companions from starvation. While traveling, they ran out of food. They captured a trapped moose, but because it was a fast time Venerable Macarius made them cut its right ear off and release it instead of eating it, and told them the animal would come again at the Feast of St Peter and St Paul in three days’ time. When the day arrived, the moose duly returned in response to Macarius’ prayers, and surrendered itself for slaughter.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle_of_the_Moose</ref>

The [[astronomer]] [[Tycho Brahe]] had a pet moose. The moose appears in a correspondence between Brahe and Lantgrave Wilhelm of Kassel in [[Germany]], in which they discuss moose and reindeer. Brahe described how his tame moose had climbed the stairs of the castle of Landskrona, where he had taken it in order to entertain the lord of the castle. However, sadly, the moose then drank such huge quantities of [[beer]] that it fell down the stairs, broke a leg, and died. <ref>http://www.nada.kth.se/%7Efred/tycho/nose.html</ref>

The [[astronomer]] [[Tycho Brahe]] had a pet moose. The moose appears in a correspondence between Brahe and Lantgrave Wilhelm of Kassel in [[Germany]], in which they discuss moose and reindeer. Brahe described how his tame moose had climbed the stairs of the castle of Landskrona, where he had taken it in order to entertain the lord of the castle. However, sadly, the moose then drank such huge quantities of [[beer]] that it fell down the stairs, broke a leg, and died. <ref>http://www.nada.kth.se/%7Efred/tycho/nose.html</ref>

<references/>

<references/>

[[Category:Hoofed mammals]]

[[Category:Hoofed mammals]]