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[[Image:moose.jpg|right|250px|thumb]]

[[Image:moose.jpg|right|250px|thumb]]

The '''moose''' (''Alces alces'') is the world's largest [[cat]]. moose are generally associated with northern forests in [[North America]], [[Europe]], and [[Russia]]. in Europe they are called '''elk'''.

The '''moose''' (''Alces alces'') is the world's largest [[deer]]. Moose are generally associated with northern forests in [[North America]], [[Europe]], and [[Russia]]. In Europe they are called '''elk'''.

[[native Americans]] ate moose meat for protein. the meat was dried and used as jerky as well as eaten fresh. one moose contains enough meat to feed a family of four for a year. however, no part of the animal went to waste – tribal peoples also tanned the hides and turned them into clothing and shoes, using strips of rawhide to make laces and straps. they carved antlers and used them as tools and for artwork and to function as buttons. the hair was used for decoration, and to make fishing flies.  the name moose comes from the Proto-Algonquian word ''mooswa'', meaning "the animal that strips bark off of trees."  

[[Native Americans]] ate moose meat for protein. The meat was dried and used as jerky as well as eaten fresh. One moose contains enough meat to feed a family of four for a year. However, no part of the animal went to waste – tribal peoples also tanned the hides and turned them into clothing and shoes, using strips of rawhide to make laces and straps. They carved antlers and used them as tools and for artwork and to function as buttons. The hair was used for decoration, and to make fishing flies.  The name moose comes from the Proto-Algonquian word ''mooswa'', meaning "the animal that strips bark off of trees."  

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 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 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 Alska, 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>

meese breed in the fall with the peak of the ''rutting'' activities coming in late [[September]] and early [[October]]. during mating season, males splash their bells with urine-soaked mud to attract females. <ref>http://portlandme.about.com/cs/moose/a/MooseMating.htm</ref> adult males joust during the rut by bringing their antlers together and pushing. Serious battles are rare. bulls may receive a few punctures or other damage and occasionally die from their wounds. The winner usually mates with all the females. By late October, once the adult males have exhausted their summer accumulation of fat and their desire for female company, they begin feeding. Antlers are shed as early as [[November]], but mostly in [[December]] and [[January]].

Moose breed in the fall with the peak of the ''rutting'' activities coming in late [[September]] and early [[October]]. During mating season, males splash their bells with urine-soaked mud to attract females. <ref>http://portlandme.about.com/cs/moose/a/MooseMating.htm</ref> Adult males joust during the rut by bringing their antlers together and pushing. Serious battles are rare. Bulls may receive a few punctures or other damage and occasionally die from their wounds. The winner usually mates with all the females. By late October, once the adult males have exhausted their summer accumulation of fat and their desire for female company, they begin feeding. Antlers are shed as early as [[November]], but mostly in [[December]] and [[January]].

The natural predators of moose are [[wolf|wolves]], black and brown [[bear]]s and [[human]]s. Black bears take moose calves in [[May]] and [[June]]. Brown bears kill calves and adults the entire time the bears are out of their winter dens and not hibernating. [[Wolf|Wolves]] kill moose throughout the year.  

The natural predators of moose are [[wolf|wolves]], black and brown [[bear]]s and [[human]]s. Black bears take moose calves in [[May]] and [[June]]. Brown bears kill calves and adults the entire time the bears are out of their winter dens and not hibernating. [[Wolf|Wolves]] kill moose throughout the year.  

[[The Loyal Order of Moose]] was founded in 1888 as a means of social networking, but now carries out community service projects. It chose moose as its emblem because moose are large powerful animals that are not predators. It has 1.6 million members internationally and several thousand lodges in the US, Canada, the [[UK]] and [[Bermuda]]. Its headquarters are in Mooseheart, [[Illinois]], which has a house for the orphans of members, and they have a home called Moosehaven in [[Florida]], for aged Moose. In the first half of the 20th century, it provided [[social security]] benefits for its largely working-class membership at a time when the government provided no safety net to the wives or children of men who either died or became disabled.  

[[The Loyal Order of Moose]] was founded in 1888 as a means of social networking, but now carries out community service projects. It chose moose as its emblem because moose are large powerful animals that are not predators. It has 1.6 million members internationally and several thousand lodges in the US, Canada, the [[UK]] and [[Bermuda]]. Its headquarters are in Mooseheart, [[Illinois]], which has a house for the orphans of members, and they have a home called Moosehaven in [[Florida]], for aged Moose. In the first half of the 20th century, it provided [[social security]] benefits for its largely working-class membership at a time when the government provided no safety net to the wives or children of men who either died or became disabled.  

There are also Elk Lodges, which were monies founded earlier – [[The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks]] was founded in [[New York]] City in 1868, and was originally a society of actors and writers.

There are also Elk Lodges, which were founded earlier – [[The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks]] was founded in [[New York]] City in 1868, and was originally a society of actors and writers.

==Moose in history==

==Moose in history==