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For other uses, see Moose (disambiguation). For other animals called "elk", see Elk (disambiguation).

Moose
Conservation status

Least Concern
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Cervidae
Subfamily: Odocoilinae
Genus: Alces
Gray, 1821
Species: A. alces
Binomial name
Alces alces
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Moose range map

The moose (so named in North America) or elk (in Europe), Alces alces, is the largest member of the deer family Cervidae, distinguished from the others by the palmate antlers of its males. Moose eat saplings and shrubs, and the name moose is from mus or mooz (‘twig eater’) in several of the Algonquian languages, spoken by certain indigenous peoples of the Americas.

Habitat and range

Moose are typical of boreal and mixed deciduous forests of the Northern Hemisphere in temperate to subarctic climates. In North America, that includes almost all of Canada, Alaska, much of New England, and the upper Rockies. Moose have been successfully introduced on the island of Newfoundland in 1904 where they are now the dominant ungulate, and somewhat less successfully on Anticosti Island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Ten moose were also introduced in Fiordland, New Zealand in 1910, but they apparently died off. Nevertheless, there have been reported sightings that were thought to be false until moose hair samples were found by a New Zealand scientist in 2002.

Physical characteristics

Antlers

The male moose's antlers arise as cylindrical beams projecting on each side at right angles to the middle line of the skull, which after a short distance divide in a fork-like manner. The lower prong of this fork may be either simple, or divided into two or three tines, with some flattening.

A full grown bull moose from British Columbia with early (May) antlers

In the East Siberian race of the elk (Alces alces bedfordiae) the posterior division of the main fork divides into three tines, with no distinct flattening. In the common elk (Alces alces alces), on the other hand, this branch usually expands into a broad palmation, with one large tine at the base, and a number of smaller snags on the free border.

There is, however, a Scandinavian phase of the common elk in which the antlers are simpler, and recall those of the East Siberian race.

The palmation appears to be more marked in the North American race, the moose (Alces alces americanus) than in the typical Scandinavian elk. The largest of all is the Alaskan race (Alces alces gigas), which can stand over 2 m (6.5 ft) in height, with a span across the antlers of 1.8 m (6 ft).

The male moose will drop its antlers after mating season in order to conserve energy for the winter season. It will then regrow them in the spring. The antlers take about three to five months to grow. This makes their antlers one of the fastest growing organs in the world. The antlers initially have a layer of skin, which will shed off once fully grown.

A moose crossing a river.

Other characteristics

The great length of the legs gives a decidedly lanky appearance to the moose. The muzzle is long and fleshy, with only a very small triangular naked patch below the nostrils; and the males have a peculiar sac, known as the bell, hanging from the neck. The chief food of moose consists of young shoots and leaves of willow and birch, tree bark and mast (the fallen nuts of forest trees) in winter, and waterplants (such as Arnicus brucitus). These ruminants are often found feeding in wetlands and swamps. Their teeth resemble those of other ruminants such as deer, cows, sheep and goats. On each side of the lower jaw they have three molars, three premolars and four front teeth, one of which is a transformed canine. In the upper jaw there are no front teeth, only a plate of horn against which the food is chewed. The usual stride of a moose is a shambling trot but, when pressed, they can break into a gallop and reach speeds of up to 55 km/h (34 mph).

Male moose (bulls) normally weighs between 540 - 720 kg (1200 - 1600 lbs) and females (cows) usually weigh about 400 kg (880 lb). The typical moose stands about 1.9 meters (6.2 feet) at the shoulder. Calves weigh around 15 kg (33 lb) at birth but quickly increase in size. Only the males have antlers, often 160 cm (64 inches) across and 20 kg (44 lb) in weight with a broad, flattened palmate shape fringed in up to 30 tines. An Alaskan moose discovered in 1897 holds the record for being the largest known modern deer; it was a male standing 2.34 m (7.7 feet) at the shoulders and weighing 825 kg. Its antler spread was 199 cm (79 inches).

History

European rock drawings and cave paintings reveal that the elk or moose has been hunted since the stone age. Excavations in Alby, Sweden adjacent to the Stora Alvaret have yielded elk antlers in wooden hut remains from 6000 BC, indicating some of the earliest elk hunting in northern Europe. In Northern Scandinavia one can still find remains of trapping pits used for hunting elk. These pits, which can measure up to 4 x 7 m in plan and be up to 2 m deep, would have been camouflaged with branches and leaves. They would have had steep sides lined with planks, making it impossible for the elk to escape once it had fallen in. The pits are normally found in large groups, crossing the elk's regular paths and stretching over several kilometres. Remains of wooden fences designed to guide the animals toward the pits have been found in bogs and peats. In Norway, an early example of these trapping devices has been dated to around 3700 BC. Trapping elk in pits is an extremely effective hunting method, and as early as the 16th century the Norwegian government tried to restrict their use. Nevertheless, the method was in use until the 19th century.

The first written description of the elk is in Julius Cæsar's Commentarii de Bello Gallico, where it is described thus:

"There are also animals which are called alces. The shape of these, and the varied color of their skins, is much like roes, but in size they surpass them a little and are without horns, and have legs without joints and ligatures; nor do they lie down for the purpose of rest, nor, if they have been thrown down by any accident, can they raise or lift themselves up. Trees serve as beds to them; they lean themselves against them, and thus reclining only slightly, they take their rest; when the huntsmen have discovered from the footsteps of these animals whither they are accustomed to betake themselves, they either undermine all the trees at the roots, or cut into them so far that the upper part of the trees may appear to be left standing. When they have leant upon them, according to their habit, they knock down by their weight the unsupported trees, and fall down themselves along with them."

In chapter 16 of Pliny the Elders Natural History from 77AD the elk and an animal called achlis, which is presumably the same animal, are described thus:

"...there is, also, the elk, which strongly resembles our steers, except that it is distinguished by the length of the ears and of the neck. There is also the achlis, which is produced in the island of Scandinavia; it has never been seen in this city, although we have had descriptions of it from many persons; it is not unlike the elk, but has no joints in the hind leg. Hence, it never lies down, but reclines against a tree while it sleeps; it can only be taken by previously cutting into the tree, and thus laying a trap for it, as otherwise, it would escape through its swiftness. Its upper lip is so extremely large, for which reason it is obliged to go backwards when grazing; otherwise, by moving onwards, the lip would get doubled up."

Dr. Valerius Geist, who emigrated to Canada from the Soviet Union wrote in his book Moose: Behavior, Ecology, Conservation (published in 1999 by Voyageur Press of Stillwater, MN):

"Those who care most passionately about moose are - paradoxically - hunters, in particular people who live in wilderness and rural communities and those who depend on moose for food. In Sweden, no fall menu is without a mouthwatering moose dish. The Swedes fence their highways to reduce moose fatalities and design moose-proof cars. Sweden is less than half as large as the Canadian province of British Columbia, but the annual take of moose in Sweden - upward of 150,000 - is twice that of the total moose harvest in North America. That is how much Swedes cherish their moose."

Domestication

In Sweden it was a popular idea among some kings to domesticate moose to form a moose cavalry, especially during the 17th century. The idea was however deemed impossible and were abandoned.

Domestication of moose was investigated in the Soviet Union before World War Two. Early experiments were inconclusive, but with the creation of a moose farm at Pechora-Ilych Nature Reserve in 1949 a small-scale moose domestication program was started, involving attempts at selective breeding of animals based on their behavioral characteristics. Since 1963, the program has continued at Kostroma Moose Farm, which had a herd of 33 tame moose as of 2003. Although at this stage the farm is not expected to be a profit-making enterprise, it obtains some income from the sale of moose milk and from visiting tour groups. Its main value, however, is seen in the opportunities it offers for the research in the physiology and behavior of the moose, as well as in the insights it provides into the general principles of animal domestication.

In popular culture

File:Elk vyborg.jpg
Statue in Vyborg.
  • The moose, along with the beaver, is one of the national animals of Canada. It is also considered the national animal of Sweden and Norway. In Norway it is often referred to as "the King of the Forest".
  • In Western culture, the moose is often depicted as laconic and good-natured but not terribly bright. Bullwinkle of The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, an animated television series, is the most famous example, although Rutt and Tuke (voiced by Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas in a return to their MacKenzie Brothers roles) from the Disney release Brother Bear are also excellent examples.
  • In sportsbetting, a "moose" is said to occur when something highly unlikely or improbable occurs thereby "moosing" everyone that appeared to have the winning bet. Typically, a "moose" takes place near the end of a sporting event.
  • A Moose for Jessica chronicles the 76-day 'relationship' between a wild bull moose and a Hereford cow named Jessica in Shrewsbury, Vermont, USA.
  • In Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the opening credits are given mock-Swedish subtitles that quickly degenerate into vandalism, including such lines as "A møøse once bit my sister" and "Mynd you, møøse bites kan be pretty nastï".
  • In poker, a loose or inexperienced player is often referred to as a "moose" (or occasionally a "Vunk").
  • The quest to see (and possibly catch) moose or 'meese'* is a recurring theme in The Tent Dwellers, by Albert Bigelow Paine.
  • The moose is the symbol of American clothing company Abercrombie & Fitch.
  • The mascot of the Seattle Mariners is the Mariner Moose.
  • A bronze statue of a moose decorates the old main square of the city of Monchegorsk in Russian Lapland, and is an unofficial emblem of the city.
  • The moose is the state animal of Maine.
  • U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt was referring to the male moose's relentless behavior during breeding when he said "I am as strong as a bull moose" (some accounts say "fit as a bull moose"). Because of this, Roosevelt's Progressive Party became popularly known as the Bull Moose Party.

Vehicle collisions and moose warning signs

Young elk in Grönåsens Moosepark, Sweden

A moose's body structure, with a large heavy body suspended on long spindly legs, makes these animals particularly dangerous when hit by motor vehicles. Such collisions are often fatal for both the moose and motorist. This has led to the development of a vehicle test in Scandinavia referred to as the "elk test" (Älgtest). In an advertising campaign the Swedish car manufacturers Volvo and Saab warned people of buying Japanese cars by stating "There are no moose in Japan." Generally, upon impact the bumper of the car will break the elk's legs. The main body of the elk will then collide with the windshield, often with disastrous effect to both motorist and animal. In a collision of this nature a car's airbags may not deploy or be of much use if they do.

Moose or elk warning signs are used on roads in regions where there is a danger of collision with the animal. The triangular warning signs common in Sweden and Norway have become coveted souvenirs among the many German tourists traveling in these countries, and authorities have had to issue warnings that it is a dangerous and criminal practice to remove one of these signs. The popularity of these signs has led to them being depicted on all kinds of souvenirs, such as coffee mugs, neckties or T-shirts, and full-size copies of the actual signs may be bought. In the mid 1990s, the Swedish postal service issued a triangular stamp with an elk warning sign, intended to cater especially to German tourists writing postcards home. The brand Ahlgrens bilar ("Ahlgren's Cars"), a popular confectionery product which has been on the market since 1953, has in recent years been extended to other car- and road-related products, one of which, depicting Swedish road signs, includes a candy elk warning sign.

In the Canadian province of New Brunswick, collisions with moose are frequent enough that all new highways have fences to prevent moose from accessing the road. Ironically, Highway 7 between Fredericton and Saint John, which has one of the highest incidences of moose collisions in the province, does not have these fences, although it is extremely well signed.

  • Swedish elk warning sign Swedish elk warning sign
  • Finnish elk warning sign Finnish elk warning sign
  • Norwegian elk warning sign Norwegian elk warning sign
  • Swedish candy elk warning sign Swedish candy elk warning sign
  • A warning sign from Newfoundland, Canada A warning sign from Newfoundland, Canada
  • A moose warning sign from Maine, USA A moose warning sign from Maine, USA
  • A moose warning sign from New Hampshire, USA A moose warning sign from New Hampshire, USA

Trivia

  • The plural of moose is "moose," not "meese", although the latter is sometimes jokingly used due to the fact that the plural of goose is "geese".
  • A group of moose is called a "Gang" or "Herd".
  • The moose test is a test for vehicles doing rapid cornering, based on steering to avoid crashing into elks/moose. An elk test conducted in Sweden was the embarrassing downfall of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class as the car rolled over and resulted in the A-Class being modified for better stability.
  • A moose can swim for up to two hours and as far as twelve miles at a speed of up to 10 km/h (6 mph).
  • Several Norwegian municipalities have one or more elks in their coat-of-arms: Aremark, Namsos, Namsskogan, Ringsaker, Tynset.
  • According to the Life of Venerable Macarius of Unzha, the Saint and his companions were saved from starvation by the Miracle of the Moose (1439).
  • Tycho Brahe (1546-1601), a famous physicist and astronomer, had a pet moose that once got drunk and died when it fell down the stairs in his castle.

References

External links

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