MOOSE

            Moose are mammals that travel in herds. They are the largest species in the deer family. Their average life span in the wild is about 15-20 years. All moose are herbivores. The average adult moose needs to consume 9,770 calories per day to maintain its body weight. Moose can be found in many different places including parts of Europe and Canada.

                    Habitat

          Moose are found in Europe and Siberia more than a half million years ago. During a cold period the Bering Strait froze and the moose traveled to Alaska and North America. Today you can find moose all over the Northern Hemisphere. Moose like to live in forests where there is snow in the winter. A moose can't sweat and they don't like it when the weather gets warmer than 27 degrees celsius. That is why they like forests where there is snow in the winter and areas where they can find lakes, ponds, and streams to cool off in. They also like the forest because the trees give them shade to help them cool off and they like to eat the leaves, twigs, and berries. 

                    Antlers

           Moose can mean "stripping off" refering to its antlers. Both female and male moose have antlers but female antlers tend to be smaller then males. While their antlers are growing they are covered in velvet. Once the antlers have reached full size the velvet is lost and the bones die. The dead bones are then the full grown antlers that are shed during mating season. A new set of antlers will grow in the spring. The antlers of an adult moose are usually between 3.9ft. and 4.9ft. 

                    Physical Characteristics

          On average, an adult moose stands at 6-7ft. high at the shoulders. Males weigh 800-1580 pounds and females weigh 600-800 pounds. Typically, the antlers of a mature moose are between 3.9ft. and 4.9ft. The moose is the second largest land animal in North America and Europe, behind the bison.

          One of the most well known features of the moose is its antlers, but only male moose have them. All moose have a large snout, or nose, and big floppy ears. They have long legs, a little tail, and a flap of skin under their chin. The moose also has four hooves. 

                    Predators

          An adult moose has few enemies, but a pack of wolves can still be a threat, especially to female moose with calves. Occasionally there have been cases where a moose has been killed by a single wolf. Wolf packs mostly target calves and elderly moose, but can and will take healthy, adult moose. Black bears and cougars can hunt moose calves in May and June. Moose are hunted by humans as a game in some places. Moose have been hunted since the Stone Age. Some people say it tastes some what like beef, and from experience, I agree.

                        Vehicle Collisions 

          Moose are particularly dangerous when they cause car crashes. Moose warning signs are used in regions where there is danger of collision with moose. Usually when a car collides with a moose at, high speed, the car's bumper will break the moose's legs causing the moose's body to fly up and over the car's hood crushing anyone in the front seats. Seatbelts give no protection and airbags have little effect. Trucks aren't effected as much from the collision but the moose still has some what of an impact. 

          Fun Facts

   * Moose have no upper front teeth

   * They can swim up to 6 miles per hour fro two hours at a time

   * Moose are reported to kill more people in Canada than any other animal

   * Once when I was in Sweden I spotted a moose on the side of the road

   * In Sweden they have moose tests on their cars so they can be safer

   * Swedish moose road signs are often stolen by tourists for souvenirs

   * A moose can break the back of an enemy with one kick 

     Links I Used

  1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moose

  2. http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/moose.html

  3. http://homepage.univie.ac.at/horst.prillinger/blog/p3/moose-1.jpg

  4. http://cache.jalopnik.com/cars/assets/resources/2007/12/Moose-on-Car.jpg