Where the elk live is a natural area. Moose habitats

Elk, or elk (lat. Alces alces) is a cloven-hoofed mammal, the largest species of the deer family.

Description

Elk is one of the largest species of modern deer. The body of an adult male can reach up to 3 meters in length, with a height at the withers of up to 240 cm and a weight of up to 600 kg. to his appearance Elk are noticeably different from the closest relatives of deer. This animal has very long legs, a powerful wide chest and a massive hook-nosed head. Bloated upper lip noticeably hangs over the lower lip. Moose ears are large and mobile. Under the animal’s throat hangs a leathery outgrowth of up to 40 cm, which is called an “earring”. Elk antlers have a short trunk and a wide, slightly concave blade. The shovel, in turn, is surrounded by processes, which can be up to 18. However, the antlers of an elk have a variable design and may not even have a shovel at all, like a regular deer. The body color of elk is black-brown, and the legs range from light gray to almost white. The color of moose serves a protective function and matches the color of the bark of trees in the surrounding forest. Therefore, the color shades of animals depend on their habitat. The winter coloration of moose is noticeably lighter than the summer coloration.

Male moose differ from females by their powerful antlers. In young moose, antlers (spokes) appear only a year and a half after birth. In the third year of life, they begin to branch, and only after that the characteristic elk spade begins to appear. The animal's horns acquire their final shape only in the fifth year of life. Different subspecies of moose have antlers of different sizes and weights. Moreover, even individuals of the same subspecies can have horns of different designs and sizes. Their span reaches 180 cm, weight - 20-30 kg. The elk sheds its antlers annually in November - December and walks without them until April - May. Females are hornless.

The elk is often called elk because of its horns, which are shaped like a plow.

The East Siberian elk, unlike the European one, has an elongated head and a narrow, hook-nosed muzzle. The large upper lip hangs heavily over the lower lip. The fur of the East Siberian moose is colored black-brown at the end of the muzzle, the sides are colored more dark color, which covers the abdominal part of the body. The groin area is lighter. Males have a brown stripe along the spine. The legs are grayish-yellow on the inside, and the coat is dark brown on the outside. The outgrowth, or so-called “earring,” which is located under the throat, reaches a length of about 40 centimeters. Western moose have a shorter "earring".

Spreading

The habitat of moose is very extensive. These animals are very common in northern forests Europe, Asia, North America. In certain periods of past years, the number of moose for various reasons decreased significantly, however, through the efforts of zoologists and some states, their number was restored and increased. Today moose live in European countries: Russia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Sweden, Norway, Finland. In Asia, moose are common in China and Mongolia. On the North American continent, moose live in Canada.

The East Siberian elk is distributed in Siberia, east of the Yenisei River and on Far East, with the exception of the Amur and Ussuri regions. Before the onset of winter, the fur of elk calves is colored in red-gray shades.

Lifestyle

Elk is a sedentary animal. Elks rise from their beds only to feed, and then lie down again until the next meal. They lead an active lifestyle only during the rut, when males show aggression and can be dangerous even to humans. With the end of the mating season, the animals again become calm to the point of phlegmatism. Despite the apparent monotony, the life of moose has its own characteristic features. IN different times years, for example, these forest giants behave in different ways. Moose can create temporary herds, wander from place to place, change the composition of the food supply and methods of obtaining food. Winter in the life of moose is divided into two periods: light snow and heavy snow.

Moose inhabit various forests, willow thickets along the banks of steppe rivers and lakes, and in the forest-tundra they stay in birch and aspen forests. In the steppe and tundra in summer they are found far from the forest, sometimes hundreds of kilometers away. Great value for moose there are swamps, quiet rivers and lakes, where in summer they feed on aquatic vegetation and escape the heat. In winter, moose need mixed and coniferous forests with dense undergrowth. In that part of the range where the snow cover is no more than 30-50 cm high, moose live sedentary; where it reaches 70 cm, they make transitions to less snowy areas for the winter. The transition to wintering areas is gradual and lasts from October to December-January. Females with elk calves go first, adult males and females without elk calves come last. Moose travel 10-15 km a day. Reverse, spring migrations occur during snow melting and in the reverse order: adult males come first, females with elk calves come last.

It is most convenient to begin describing the sequence of seasons in the life of moose in the fall, when young yearlings become independent, and adults gain fat on the eve of winter. The autumn transition period lasts about a month and represents the transition from summer to winter feeds. Features and timing of this transition period are determined climatic conditions in a given animal habitat.

In winter, moose prefer coniferous and mixed forests. Moose lead a sedentary lifestyle when the snow cover is from 30 to 50 cm high. If the snow is deep - 70 or more centimeters, moose migrate to less snowy areas. December – January is the time when moose leave for their wintering grounds. Females with young animals are the first to leave for the winter, followed by childless females and males. At the same time, within one day, moose travel 10–15 kilometers. When the snow begins to melt, animals leave their wintering grounds. In this case, the males set off first, followed by the females with their offspring.

In summer, due to the heat and blood-sucking insects, moose lead an active life at night, and during the day they lie down in wind-blown meadows and swamps. In winter, on the contrary, animals feed during the day and spend the night lying down. When severe frost sets in, moose can bury themselves in the snow so that only their heads remain outside. IN middle lane In Russia, moose prefer to winter in the thickets of young pine forests, while in Siberia these animals winter in willow forests or young birch groves located near rivers.

Moose run fast, up to 56 km/h; swim well. While looking for aquatic plants, they can keep their heads under water for more than a minute. They defend themselves from predators by striking their front legs. Of the sense organs, the moose has the best developed hearing and smell; poor vision - motionless standing man he cannot see at a distance of a few tens of meters.

Reproduction

Males and single females live alone or in small groups of 3-4 animals. In summer and winter, adult females walk with elk calves, forming groups of 3-4 heads, sometimes males and single females join them, forming a herd of 5-8 heads. In the spring these herds disperse.

The elk's rut ​​occurs in the same season as the deer's - in September-October and is accompanied by the characteristic dull roar of the males ("moaning"). During the rut, males and females are excited and aggressive, and can even attack a person. Males engage in fights, sometimes to the death. Unlike most deer, elk are conditionally monogamous, rarely mating with more than one female.

During mating season, male moose do not collect harems like other deer species. During the rutting period, males are very excited, break branches with their horns, dig holes with their hooves, look for females and follow them, driving away competitors and sometimes getting into a fight with them. At this time, the moose to a greater extent males lose their inherent caution and cease to be afraid of people, which creates the feeling that in the fall there are noticeably more moose in the forest. The mating season lasts about two months and ends in October or November. Females reach sexual maturity by the second or third autumn, and males a year later.

Pregnancy of females lasts approximately 230 days, after which the moose cow gives birth to one or two cubs. This happens in April or May. It should be noted that in paired litters, one moose calf often dies. The moose calves are born a solid light red color and remain in the place of their birth for about a week, and then begin to walk with their mother. At the same time, they are already beginning to feed on the leaves of aspen and birch trees. But they are not yet able to get grass during this period due to their long legs. Only at the age of one month do moose calves learn to kneel down and eat grass when feeding. The female feeds the moose calves with milk until they are about 4 months old. Moose milk is 3-4 times fatter than cow's milk, and its protein content is 5 times higher. During the day, the elk calf consumes 1–2 liters of milk. The young animals grow quickly and by the first autumn the moose calves reach a weight of about 130 kg, and sometimes up to 200 kg.

Moose become sexually mature at 2 years of age. After 12 years, the moose begins to age; In nature, moose older than 10 years are no more than 3%. In captivity they live up to 20-22 years.

Nutrition

Moose feed on trees, shrubs and herbaceous vegetation, as well as mosses, lichens and fungi. In summer they eat leaves, reaching them from a considerable height thanks to their growth; feed on aquatic and near-aquatic plants (watch, marigold, egg capsules, water lilies, horsetails), as well as tall grasses in burnt areas and cutting areas - fireweed, sorrel. At the end of summer they look for cap mushrooms, sprigs of blueberries and lingonberries with berries. From September they begin to bite off shoots and branches of trees and shrubs and by November they almost completely switch to twig food. The main winter food for moose includes willow, pine (fir in North America), aspen, rowan, birch, and raspberry; in the thaw they gnaw the bark. During the day, an adult moose eats: about 35 kg of food in summer, and 12-15 kg in winter; per year - about 7 tons. In large numbers, moose damage forest nurseries and plantings. Elks visit salt licks almost everywhere; In winter they even lick salt off highways.

Economic importance

Elk is a hunting and commercial animal (meat and leather).

In Russia and Scandinavia, attempts have been made to domesticate and use moose as a riding and dairy animal, but the difficulty of keeping them makes this economically impractical. There were 7 moose farms in the USSR, currently there are two - the moose farm of the Pechora-Ilychsky Nature Reserve in the village of Yaksha and the Sumarokovskaya moose farm in the Kostroma region. These experiments are reflected in the film by A. Zguridi “The Tale of forest giant" Both moose farms state Tours are available at the farms.

Moose, with their large numbers in a given area, destroy a lot of forest undergrowth and cause harm forest plantations. Moreover, the forests various types, moose cause damage of varying nature and magnitude. However, people often exaggerate the damage these animals cause to forests. Specially conducted studies eloquently demonstrate that the damage caused by moose does not significantly affect the life of forests. This naturally applies to those cases when the number of moose in a given area does not exceed some acceptable values. If the number of moose becomes too high, then it becomes necessary to regulate it.

In many cultures of the world, both modern and ancient, the attitude towards this animal is special and respectful. In Rus', the moose was called the master of the forests, the ancient Scandinavians respected this animal for its nobility and intelligence, and some Indian tribes worshiped the moose as a patron and giver of benefits. The peoples of the Russian north have a belief that Milky Way- this is the ski track of the heavenly hunter who tracks down the elk. And the moose itself, according to Evenki mythology, is the constellation Ursa Major.

Of course, moose do not live in the night sky, but in the northern part of our planet. These large animals choose their habitats based on their lifestyle, habits, and diet. Therefore, anyone who wants to know where moose live should familiarize themselves with other interesting facts about these animals.

Description of the species

Moose are the largest representatives of the deer family. Scientists have not determined exactly the number of moose subspecies, so sources give different data: from four to eight. It is known that the largest one today is the Alaskan elk, and the smallest is the Ussuri elk.

Main hallmark the animal has horns. Their shape resembles a plow, which is why the elk is often called a plow. But, frankly speaking, you can recognize a moose not only by its antlers. He has a unique appearance, expressive and memorable.

The places where moose live can be called impassable, so in the process of evolution the animal acquired strong, long legs with massive hooves. The moose has a large, hook-nosed head with intelligent eyes and large, fleshy lips. Sexual demorphism is well expressed; the female is easily distinguished from the male by its smaller size and the absence of horns.

Lifestyle: what determines the habitat

Let's look at where elk live and what this animal eats in natural environment.

Moose are herbivores, but average weight a body of six hundred kilograms of food requires a lot of food. They feed on shrubs and leaves, lichens and mosses. An important part of the diet is mushrooms, among which there are even fly agaric mushrooms. Moose also love berries, and usually eat them along with shoots. They love cranberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, and rowan. During the cold and hungry seasons, moose happily gnaw on bark. It is not difficult to guess where the elk lives, since he prefers such food. Of course, in the forest!

But the most obvious answer is not always the only one. Elks also settle in swamps, steppes and forest-steppes.

Habitat

The map clearly shows where moose live (highlighted in red).

Moose live in wildlife, national parks and nature reserves in Russia, the USA, Canada, Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, in the countries of the Scandinavian Peninsula and the Baltic states, as well as in the Far East (northern Mongolia and China). A small population lives in New Zealand.

Active hunting for mighty master forests led to the fact that in Europe the elk was almost completely exterminated. Populations were rebuilt from scratch.

Master of Russian forests

When answering the question about where moose live in Russia, many also name, in addition to the tundra and taiga Arctic zone. This erroneous opinion arose probably due to the fact that in the Far North it is common close relative moose - reindeer.

In fact, moose do not like winters that are too harsh. He confidently overcomes wetlands, but it is difficult for him to wander for a long time in the snow and look for food under it.

The elk population living in Russia is the largest in the world. About half of all existing moose live in Russian Siberia, the Far East and the European part of the country.

eagled emigrant

How could a moose end up on the other side of the earth? This species was introduced to New Zealand Europeans in the 19th century, along with other animals of hunting interest.

The New Zealand population is currently small. Some researchers, relying on the lack of photographs taken by camera traps over the past half century, are trying to prove that there are no moose left in the island state. But many hunters claim that they periodically see elk, and some shed antlers, bedding areas and paths trodden by powerful hooves were even photographed.

Where does the moose spend the winter?

Old hunters are able to determine from the behavior of elk what will happen coming winter. If the females with their cubs, and after a while the males, leave their homes and migrate to the south, it means that there will be a lot of snow, and the thermometer will creep down significantly. Migrations begin in November, when winter has not yet reached its full strength, and the elk calves born in early summer have grown and become strong enough.

Where does elk live in winter? In approximately the same conditions as during the rest of the year. The elk prefer to move to coniferous and mixed forests where it is easier to find food. The places where moose spend the winter are called wintering grounds.

Migrations are not a mandatory habit of elk. Populations living in regions with temperate climate where no more than half a meter of snow falls in winter, they usually do not roam and lead sedentary image life.

As at any other time of the year, the availability of water is very important for moose. These animals drink a lot, and, unlike others, they do not eat snow to replenish their moisture reserves, saving heat.

Natural enemies of moose

In the same place where moose live, other animals also live in the forests. Of course, attack large animal Not every predator will dare to fight back. And elk run very well. But wolves can hunt moose, especially during the hungry winter season.

True, when answering the question about the main enemy of the moose, animal rights activists, unfortunately, first name the person with the gun. Moose hunting has more than once brought these animals to the brink of extinction; huge herds have perished due to human amusement. Today hunting is controlled.

How to behave where elk live

Of course, looking at the massive body on high legs and the big forehead with powerful horns, you can understand that the elk is not so harmless. Deciding that a person is dangerous for the elk family, he can attack.

Experienced huntsmen advise simply to freeze for a moment when you see this animal. Moose can't see very well, so soon the elk will simply pass by. You won’t have to wait long; these animals spend the lion’s share of their time searching for food.

Drivers should take special care. Moose are not very timid, so when they see moving vehicles, they may not move aside. A direct collision with an obstacle weighing 600 kilograms can throw even a minibus or jeep into a ditch. Some accidents that occur due to moose entering the roadway result in the death of both people and animals.

Protection of animals in their natural habitat

Today, many forestries are taking a number of measures to maintain the size and growth of populations of these animals. In those forests where moose live, in winter, feeders with hay and vegetables are equipped for them, and salt licks are laid out (moose love to lick salt stones). Hunting is strictly controlled, and poaching is punished to the fullest extent of the law.

The majestic animal elk belongs to the class of mammals. It is one of the varieties of the deer family. The planet is inhabited by almost one and a half million individuals.

Moose antlers are his pride

His distinctive feature from other species of deer are its antlers, they are not like the others. Heavy, spade-shaped, sweeping horns resemble in appearance an arable tool - a plow. Due to this, the moose received the name – elk.

In an adult male, the span of the horns reaches 180 cm, and their weight can be about 30 kg. Every year, from November to December, moose shed their antlers, so if, while walking through the forest, you accidentally stumble upon such an attribute, do not be alarmed, the moose no longer needs these antlers; it will grow new ones. And these can be taken as souvenirs.

Females do not have horns.

Antlers serve as a means of protection for elk; they use them to fend off predators and also to fight rivals.

Appearance of a moose

In addition to the peculiarity of its antlers, the elk is the largest in the family. Its weight is more than half a ton. The largest specimen was noted - a male, whose weight reached 655 kg. Moose cows are smaller than males.

He has a massive wide chest and back, the front part in the area of ​​the shoulder blades is higher, and the neck is short. Large large head, wide elongated muzzle. His upper lip is large and hangs slightly. There is a leathery outgrowth on the neck, it is also called an “earring”.

The elk has rather tall and at the same time thin legs, and in order to drink water the elk is forced to go deep into the water or bend down, kneeling. But thanks to such legs, the elk runs fast, reaching speeds of up to 56 km/h.

Nutrition

Moose feed on young growth of trees and shrubs, as well as grass; in addition, they can eat mushrooms, mosses and lichens. In winter, they eat tree bark and branches.

Moose do not like heat so they feed more often at night. During the day, it chooses swampy places for feeding, near water or well-ventilated.

Mating period and pregnancy of a moose cow

Mating in moose occurs in the fall, September – October. During this period, the elk shows strong aggression. Males fight each other, unfortunately, sometimes with fatal results.

The moose remains in position for about 8 months. As a result, usually one calf is born, rarely, usually in old females two are born.

Elk calves

The little elk calf is red in color. They are able to stand on their feet within a few minutes after birth.

Elk calves behave like all children. They drink mother’s milk, which, by the way, is very fat – up to 13% and high in protein. They frolic and always stay close to their mother, who will always protect her baby.

Kids are interesting and funny. Watching them is a special pleasure.

Moose cows and moose calves form groups of 3–4 animals. Sometimes males can join such groups.

Where do moose live?

Since moose do not like heat, they are common in the northern part. Occupy forest areas, sometimes forest-steppe and outskirts of steppes.

In winter, moose can migrate to places with the least snow cover. They move to another place if the snow cover reaches 70 cm. Moose are very patient, hardy and strong. In the spring they return and live in the area settled.

Many coats of arms of cities and regions have images of elk. For some it symbolizes natural resources, in others it shows strength and endurance. The image of a moose is found even on banknotes and stamps.

A variation of Russian roulette. This is how the pursuit of adrenaline can end.

North American moose are common in the northern states of the USA, Canada and Alaska - in these territories they are the largest representatives of the species, reaching 2.3 m in height at the withers. Moose living in northeastern Europe are significantly smaller than their American relatives.

REPRODUCTION

The mating season for moose occurs in autumn. During the rut, males behave very aggressively: they break young trees and bushes with their horns and moan loudly. The elk cares for only one female, however, during the mating season it can mate with several. Young males are usually inferior to older and stronger males, but opponents whose strengths are equal engage in battle and often inflict severe wounds on each other.

At the end of spring, the moose cow gives birth to one or two moose calves, covered with golden-brown fur, which in the first days of life are still unsteady on their feet, but after a week they already accompany their mother everywhere. The second calf in paired litters often dies. At the age of 4-5 months, milk feeding stops. However, the child remains with the mother until the time of her next birth comes. Starting from the age of one month, the elk calf also nibbles grass.

LIFESTYLE

Moose usually live alone or in small groups. In spring and summer, males and females are separated. At this time, females live with their cubs. In summer, moose are found mainly on the plains, near lakes and swamps. When cold weather sets in, animals go to higher ground and seek shelter in the forests.

Winter is a very difficult period for the survival of moose. High snow makes it difficult for moose to both move and find food. Mostly animals walk along beaten paths and feed near roads. In places where there is food, moose unite in large groups. Hunters call such places “moose camps,” and Canadian trappers call them “yards.” A weak elk is potential prey for. Wolves usually attack hungry animals at the end of winter.

WHAT DO MELK EAT?

Moose are active both in the light and in the dark, but especially in the early morning and in the evening twilight. Moose are herbivores. They feed mainly on leaves and branches of willow, birch and aspen. In summer, moose prefer burnt areas and cutting areas. In these places they find their favorite delicacy - angustifolia fireweed (willowherb). In the warm season, moose also feed on aquatic plants. You can often observe how a moose stands up to its neck in water while feeding. To get to its favorite stems and roots, the animal has to dip its head in water. In winter, lakes and swamps freeze, and then moose are forced to make do with shoots of deciduous and coniferous trees, herbaceous plants and berry bushes.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Taming process wild moose very simple. The calf gets used to the person who feeds it for the rest of its life. There is a known case when a one-year-old female elk got lost while free grazing in the taiga. Two years later, she met her breadwinner in the taiga. Hearing his voice, she ran to him, began sniffing his face, hands and poking her muzzle into the pocket from which she had once taken out a treat. The moose followed the man about 10 km to the moose farm and stayed there to live.

Elk is the largest representative of the deer family. Males reach 600 kg. These are very strong animals. They can easily jump over a 4-meter ditch and a 2-meter fence. They like to settle near rivers and lakes, in swampy areas. They feed on young leaves, shoots, bark of trees and shrubs, and marsh vegetation. They swim great. Males are decorated with large horns. In the spring, 1-2 cubs are born, which within a few hours can follow their mother. Thanks to its strength, the elk is not afraid of either wolves or bears. It is protected by both legs and horns.

INTERESTING INFORMATION. DID YOU KNOW THAT...

• There are known cases when moose during the rut attacked trains, the sound of which was mistaken for the roar of competitors.
• An elk reaches speeds of up to 56 km/h while running. It is also a good swimmer and is able to stay underwater for about 1 minute.
• On the territory former USSR Elks are kept as livestock in some places. Elks provide meat and milk to their owners and are used as draft animals.
• Elk have very poor eyesight, but this is compensated by well-developed hearing and sense of smell.
• Throughout its range, elk forms six to seven subspecies, of which four or five inhabit Eurasia and two inhabit North America.
• In deep snow, the moose feels helpless. Hunters often use this.

CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF ELK. DESCRIPTION

The male is much larger and more massive than the female. Only male moose have branched antlers; Both sexes have very long legs.

Wide muzzle with drooping lower lip.

The male has a hanging leathery growth on his throat - an “earring”.

- Moose habitat

WHERE DOES MOOSE LIVE?

Elk inhabit the northern part of the North American continent. Smaller Eurasian moose live in Scandinavia, northeastern Europe and northern Asia.

SAVE

In some regions, the number of moose is quite high, but it varies depending on the duration and temperature winter period. In Sweden they shoot every year large number moose.

The moose guards the house instead of the dog. Video (00:03:05)

A resident of the Nizhny Novgorod region got himself an unusual pet. He raised a moose in his own house. I picked him up very little on the street. And now, in order to feed the animal, he has to look for part-time work.
They've been going everywhere together for two years now. And into the forest for a walk, and for hunting. They are not afraid of force wolf pack and the power of a fearless connecting rod. Moose Yasha won't let anyone in. The sociable elk is friends with people, dogs and geese. He adopted habits from his friends. When meeting, he extends not his paw, but his hoof. Likes to listen to the radio and watch TV.

Elk (Alces alces) belongs to the order Artiodactyla, the deer family. Elk is the largest representative of the deer family. They are typical inhabitants of the extensive forest areas of Eurasia and North America, surrounding Northern Hemisphere south of the Arctic Circle. European moose reach a length of 3 m and a height at the withers of 2.35 m; the weight of a male reaches 580-600 kg, of a female - 350 kg; North American ones can be up to 3.1 m in length, up to 2.35 m at the withers, and weighing up to 800 kg. The elk is often called elk. Fur color can range from grayish to brown-black.
Strong, long legs support a rather massive body and allow the animal to run long distances and overcome any windbreaks. Wide hooves are designed so that they do not slip on ice and slippery soil. Big ears, small eyes, drooping nose, long head, short tail - all this gives the moose a not the most sophisticated look. But despite this, the moose is a graceful animal.
Thanks to their spreading hooves, they can easily move through swamps and swamps. They are good swimmers and can cross rivers.

A striking sign of an elk is a hanging, very mobile upper lip, the purpose of which can be understood by observing how these animals look for food in the forest: they wrap their lips around branches and leaves of bushes and trees (primarily soft species) and then tear them off. Males have a soft leathery bag hanging on their neck, the so-called “earring”.
The male differs from the female by the presence of huge branched antlers, the span of which reaches 1.8 m. The antlers of an elk differ in shape from the antlers of other deer. From the eighth year of life, the elk wears its strongest antlers. If European males have antlers consisting of only a small shovel and tines, then North American moose living in Alaska have antlers with powerful shovels and more than 40 tines, and their weight exceeds 20 kg.

elk at a watering hole

From late June to August, moose clean the hardened antlers of the skin that nourished the antlers during their growth. The elk begins to rub them against the tree, as if inviting the males to fight for the right to possess the female. By September the antlers are cleared. Then it’s time for the rut, where horns play an important role. Branched antlers attract females and repel other males.
Males, whose antlers are much smaller, retreat without a fight. And a fight begins between equal rivals: both males fight with their horns, trying to knock each other down. The loser leaves with nothing, and the winner gets the female. In the month of December, when it ends mating season, the moose's antlers fall off. At the beginning of summer, new, soft horns begin to grow in their place, which by August become hard and have two horns more than the previous ones. In elk, the rut is much calmer, and fights with other males do not happen very often. However, from time to time it happens that one of the rivals kills the other.
The age of puberty is between 16 and 28 months, mating from September to October. The duration of pregnancy is approximately six months. The offspring is 1 or 2 calves. Elk offspring are born in the spring. The weight of newborns is about 10 kg, 70-80 cm at the withers, after 6 months their weight reaches 130-150 kg. The moose calves begin to walk almost immediately. The female teaches them to swim from birth. Therefore in mature age moose are capable of swimming at speeds of up to 10 km/h.
These large animals behave very protectively towards babies, so females should always be approached with extreme caution. The usual pace of moose is a leisurely trot, but in case of danger they can also gallop.

Moose lead a solitary lifestyle or graze in small herds: a female, several females and their calves. They live up to 20-25 years, but most animals in nature die much earlier. These deer are often attacked by bears (especially early spring, after leaving the den), and although moose bravely repel the attacks of this predator with powerful front legs, they do not always emerge victorious from the fight. Wolves can be very dangerous for moose. But wolves attack adult moose only in a pack, and even then they avoid attacking from the front. But a lot of young people and teenagers die from wolves. Unlike bears, wolves attack moose during periods of little snow, because the loose and high snow It is difficult for wolves to keep up not only with an adult moose, but also with a teenager. However, there is no animal more terrible for a moose than a man who for some reason decided that the proof of his strength is the moose antlers on the wall.
Because their necks are too short, moose cannot graze grass, so their main food consists of young shoots and leaves of willows and birches, and the bark of trees and shrubs. They also love ferns and mosses.
The elk try to stay close to water bodies and swampy places. IN summer time they can stand in the water for a long time, fleeing the bites of annoying insects or enemies. They often use aquatic plants for food. It can even stay underwater for one minute. This is enough to pick the roots of water lilies - his favorite delicacy.
In summer, the animal has to eat up its fat reserves to survive the famine. harsh winter. Every day, an elk needs to eat at least 30 kg of plant food.
Outside Russia, elk were exterminated in Western Europe back in the 18th century and, in addition to countries Eastern Europe, has not recovered anywhere. IN Northern Europe moose inhabit the Scandinavian Peninsula. In Asia it is also found in Northern Mongolia and Northeast China.
The animal is not in danger of being destroyed. There are currently 150,000 moose in Alaska alone. But at the same time, up to 10,000 of them are killed there every year.

Elk (Alces alces)

Magnitude	European moose reach a length of 3 m and a height at the withers of 2.35 m; the weight of a male reaches 580-600 kg, of a female - 350 kg; North American ones can be up to 3.1 m in length, up to 2.35 m at the withers, and weighing up to 800 kg
Signs	The size of a horse; long legs, short neck, long head, short tail; brown-black fur; males have large horns
Nutrition	Leaves, branches and bark of soft trees - willow, aspen, etc., along with marsh and aquatic plants
Reproduction	Gon in September; elk calves are born from April to early June, at birth 70-80 cm at the withers, after 6 months their weight reaches 130-150 kg
Habitats	Forest areas; extended to large areas Northern Hemisphere