The elusive moose

Ever since seeing one on Isle Royale when I was a young teen, I’ve always been a fan of moose. I love their lanky legs, formidable antlers, and the way they saunter. They never appear to be in a hurry, just present and doing their thing, almost oblivious to their surroundings.

But, of course, that is not the case. Moose may look clumsy and unassuming but can become aggressive and move quickly if angered or startled. Moose have large noses and a keen sense of smell, which they use to find water sources, food under snow, and to detect mates or predators.

The largest and heaviest species in the deer family, moose do not form herds and are more solitary animals. A mature male moose is called a bull, a mature female a cow, and an immature moose of either sex is a calf. Calves stay with their mothers for as long as 18 months before they are chased off to find their own mates.

A moose’s antlers as they grow are covered with a soft, furry covering called “velvet.” Blood vessels in the velvet transport nutrients to support antler growth. After the mating season, bulls drop their antlers to conserve energy for the winter. A new set of antlers will regrow in the spring over a period of 3-5 months. A cow supposedly chooses her mate based on antler size and symmetry, an indicator of health.

FUN FACTS
Moose are the only deer that are capable of feeding underwater. A moose’s nose is equipped with fatty pads and muscles that close the nostrils when exposed to water pressure. Photo by Tim Laske.
The average life expectancy of moose ranges from 10-15 years.
A moose is included on the Seal of Michigan, and in the coat of arms of Hirvensalmi, Finland.
Fans of the popular 1990s TV show *Northern Exposure* will remember the moose sauntering through the fictional town of Cicely, Alaska.

Moose are native to Michigan but largely disappeared due to disease and loss of habitat in the late 1800s. They have long inhabited Isle Royale National Park, but were reintroduced to the mainland of the Upper Peninsula as recently as the 1980s. Several hundred now roam in Marquette, Baraga, Houghton and Iron counties, with a smaller population in the eastern U.P.

I have personally only seen moose on Isle Royale, never in the U.P., but I know they are around. There have been sightings on the eastern side of Otter Lake, and I’m hoping one wanders past my cabins someday soon. These knobby-kneed beauties would be welcome to stay a while.

Photo credits: Tim Laske, Joel Greathouse, George Desort.

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