Moose animal. Description, features, species, lifestyle and habitat of moose

Elk- a noble and powerful owner of our forests, with whom even the Bear will not always dare to argue.

What is the moose called?

Sometimes moose also called elk due to the shape of the horns, which resemble a plow.

What does a Moose look like?

Elk it is not for nothing that it is considered one of the largest animals, since males often reach sizes of about 3 meters in length and 2.5 meters in height, and weigh up to 600 kg. Distinctive feature The moose is characterized by its beautiful sweeping antlers, which have an average of 18 branches.

Researchers count about 7 subspecies of Elk, which differ in size and structure of horns.

What do Moose eat?

IN Moose diet includes herbaceous and tree-shrub vegetation, mosses, lichens, mushrooms and berries. Moose eat bark pine trees, willows, birches, aspens, love young raspberry branches. Depending on the time of year, the Elk’s lunch consists either preferably of leaves or aquatic plants: water lilies, horsetails, marigolds. Interestingly, a portion of Elk per day ranges from 10 to 35 kg of feed, and per year this figure reaches 7 tons.

Where does Elk live?

Elk lives almost throughout the entire forested area Northern Hemisphere, it can often be found in the taiga or steppe part.

Swampy areas are an important component of the life of Elks, since in the hot season the animals feed on aquatic vegetation and escape from overheating. These animals are found in Poland, the Baltic states, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Belarus, northern Ukraine, Scandinavia, the European part of Russia and the Siberian taiga. Russia is home to approximately half of the total animal population.

Currently, the number of Elk, like other ungulates, is declining due to the rise of poaching.

Are Moose dangerous for humans?

If you are in the forest see the moose- freeze and stand still until the animal leaves. During the rut, Elks can be quite aggressive, but they will not see a person even a short distance away, since they have poorly developed vision. In general, Elks rarely attack first; to do this, you need to provoke the animal or come too close to the place where the offspring are located. The Elk is dangerous for motorists, since a collision on the road with an animal of this size will cause great damage to both the car and the animal itself.

Reproduction of Elks

Single Elks They live separately in small groups of up to 4 individuals; females with elk calves sometimes unite in small herds of up to 8 animals. Elks are monogamous by nature, unlike other relatives.

The elk rut takes place in early autumn and is accompanied by the loud, characteristic roar of the males. At this time, it is better not to go deep into the forest, as Moose can be aggressive and can attack a person.

There are also famous Elk fights, where rivals in the fight for the best female can not only be seriously injured, but even die. Pregnancy in the Moose lasts 225-240 days from April to June. Usually one calf is born, but older, experienced females can give birth to twins. The baby has a light red color and can get up a few minutes after birth, and after 3 days he can already move freely.

Maturity in Elks occurs at 2 years, and by 12 they are already aging, although in captivity with good care they live up to 20 years.

Enemies of the Moose

First enemy of the Moose, of course, a man with a weapon.

Moose are hunted wolves and bears ( Brown bear, grizzly). The prey is usually young, sick and old Elk. Wolves are practically harmless to healthy adults unless they attack in a large pack.

Los it is difficult to maintain a perimeter defense open spaces. The picture looks completely different when the Elk is in the thicket. Here he often takes a defensive defense: covering his rear with some tree or thickets of bushes, the Elk defends itself from attackers with blows from its front legs. Moose is capable of these signature blows crack a wolf's skull and can easily defend itself from a bear. Therefore, predators avoid meeting Elk “face to face”.

Moose is excellent swimmer and can hold its breath underwater for more than a minute.

Of the sense organs, the Moose has the best developed hearing and smell. Moose's eyesight is poor- motionless standing man he cannot see at a distance of a few tens of meters.

In a fight with predators, the Elk uses its strong front legs, so even bears sometimes prefer to avoid the Elk. These animals are excellent runners thanks to their strong and long legs, and can reach speeds of up to 56 km/h.

Moose milk, which they feed their offspring, contains 5 times more protein than cow's, and 3-4 times fatter. Currently, there are two moose farms operating in Russia, which produce milk used for medicinal purposes, as well as meat and leather.

At first, long-legged Elk calves cannot reach the grass and graze on their knees.

Picture of heavenly Elks or Deer were characteristic of many hunting peoples. Constellation Ursa Major in Russian tradition it was called Los. Among the peoples of the North there are widespread legends about the creation of the Milky Way during the pursuit of Elk hunters, as well as about how Elk carried the sun into the celestial taiga. Sometimes taiga hunters The sun was also figuratively represented in the form of a living creature - a giant Elk, running across the entire sky during the day and plunging into the endless underground sea by night.

These animals are solitary animals; males most often live on their own, while females often live with elk calves. Sometimes males join females with cubs, forming small herds, but this is rare.

What do moose eat?

The elk eats vegetation as it is a herbivore. And because of the characteristics of the habitats, which are swampy areas, as well as thickets of willow trees along the banks of rivers and lakes, and in the forest-tundra - birch and aspen forests. The main type of food for moose is the tree and shrub vegetation growing in these places.

In summer- elk feeds mainly at night, eating: bushes, leaves, fresh shoots, tree bark, moss, lichens, mushrooms, plant fruits, berries - lingonberries, blueberries, raspberries, herbs - fireweed, sorrel. The elk also loves mushrooms - porcini mushrooms, moss mushrooms, boletus mushrooms.

In addition, moose eat plants growing near water bodies: marigolds, egg capsules, water lilies, horsetails. Since in the summer food is more plentiful, moose try to eat to their advantage, eating up to 35 kilograms per day.

in winter- elk feed mainly during the daytime: they eat pine needles, tree branches, and gnaw on bark. In order to get enough food, the moose needs a lot of food, but in winter period there is little food, the animal has difficulty finding 12-15 kg.

In addition to vegetation, the elk needs salt, which it looks for in salt licks; moreover, in winter it has to lick salt from highways.
The elk is rightfully the adornment of our forests. This is a big, proud and beautiful animal! But these forest beauties is getting smaller and smaller.

Due to the thoughtless shooting, the animal was listed in the Red Book. But thanks to protection begun in 1920, the species was preserved and resettled in Western Europe. Currently, about 730 thousand individuals live in Russia, and in total there are about one and a half million on Earth.

Think about it people, it’s not easy for them to live in the wild. Stop the mad shooting.

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 elk 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 today is the Alaskan moose, and the smallest is the Ussuri moose.

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; females are easily distinguished from males by their smaller size and lack 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 of Russia, the USA, Canada, Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, the countries of the Scandinavian Peninsula and the Baltic states, as well as Far East(in the north of 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 doesn't like it too much harsh winters. 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 by the behavior of elk what kind of 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 in times of hunger. winter time.

True, when answering the question about the main enemy of the moose, animal rights activists, unfortunately, first name a man with a 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 the 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.

Elk, also known as elk, is a mammal that belongs to the order Artiodactyla, suborder Ruminantidae, family Deer, genus Elk (lat. Alces).

The name "elk" presumably comes from the Old Slavonic "ols", indicating the red color of the coat that newborn elk calves have. Another common name for elk in Rus' since ancient times, “elk,” apparently arose due to the similarity of its antlers with a plow, an ancient agricultural tool.

Elk – description, characteristics, structure. What does a moose look like?

Elk is the largest representative of the deer family. The height of the elk at the withers ranges from 1.70 to 2.35 m, the body length reaches 3 m, and the weight, depending on the sex, varies from 300 to 600 or more kilograms. Some sources indicate Weight Limit elk weighing 825 kg. Males are usually larger in size than females. Females weigh approximately 200-490 kg.

Moose are a little clumsy in appearance: long-legged, with a short body. They have a powerful chest and shoulders. The elk's legs are long, not thin, with narrow, long hooves. The tail is short but noticeable. The head is heavy, up to 500 mm in length, hook-nosed. There are large, very mobile ears on the head, a swollen upper lip hangs over the lower lip, and under the throat there is a soft leathery outgrowth, an “earring,” 25–40 cm long.

Moose fur consists of coarser long hairs and soft undercoat. In winter, the fur grows up to 10 cm in length. On the withers and neck, the hair is longer, in the form of a mane, and reaches 20 cm, which is why it seems that the animal has a hump. The softer hair growing on the head even covers the lips of the mammal, only on the upper lip between the nostrils there is a small bare area.

Elk are brownish-black or black on the upper body, which fades to brown on the lower body. The back of the body, croup and buttocks have the same coloring as the rest of the body: the so-called tail “mirror” is absent. The lower part of the legs is whitish. In summer, moose are darker in color than in winter. The length of the animal's tail is 12-13 cm.

There are no front teeth on the elk's upper jaw, but they are compensated by 8 incisors on the lower jaw. Animals also have 6 pairs of molars (molars) and 6 pairs of premolars (small molars), which are used for chewing food.

Moose swim well (they can swim up to 20 km) and run quite fast. The speed of the moose reaches 55 km/h.

Moose have the most large horns among all mammals. They reach a span of 180 cm and weigh up to 20 kg. The horn consists of a short trunk and a wide, flat, slightly concave blade, which is bordered by up to 18 processes. The number of shoots, their length, as well as the size of the shovel itself are different among moose of different ages. The older the elk, the more powerful its antlers, the wider the shovel, and the shorter the shoots on it. Young elk calves only grow small horns a year after birth.

Initially, elk antlers are soft, covered with delicate skin and fur. There are blood vessels inside the horns, so the horns of a young animal can hurt when insect bites and bleed when wounded, which naturally causes pain. A year and 2 months after the birth of the animal, the horns harden and the blood supply to them stops. In the fifth year of life, the elk's antlers (antlers) become large, powerful and heavy: the shovel becomes wider and the shoots on it become shorter.

When does an elk shed its antlers and why?

In November - December, the elk sheds its old antlers. This process does not cause pain to the animal, but only brings relief. To get rid of antlers as quickly as possible, elk rub their antlers against trees. In April - May, the animal begins to grow new antlers, which finally harden by the end of July, and in August the moose cleans them from the skin. Females do not have horns.

An elk needs antlers not for protection from predators, as it might seem, but only for a mating ritual. They attract females and scare away rival males. At the end mating season they lose their function, and the elk sheds its antlers. This makes his life easier, since in winter it would be difficult to move with such a weight on his head.

And yet, why do the horns fall off? The fact is that after the mating season, the amount of sex hormones in the elk’s blood decreases, as a result, cells appear at the base of the horns that destroy bone matter and weaken the attachment point of the horns to the skull. Eventually the horns fall off. Shed elk antlers, which contain a lot of protein, are eaten by rodents, birds and predators or softened in marshy soil.

Where does moose live?

Moose are common in the Northern Hemisphere. The now numerous moose population 19th century was completely destroyed in Europe, excluding Russia, and only as a result of conservation measures taken at the beginning of the 20th century, these animals again settled in Northern and Eastern Europe. Now on European continent moose live in the countries of the Scandinavian Peninsula (Finland, Norway), in the north of Ukraine, in Belarus, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, the Baltic countries (Latvia, Estonia), in Russia: from Kola Peninsula in the north to southern steppes. In Asia, they occupy the taiga zone of Siberia, reaching the forest-tundra, as well as the Far East, northeast China, and northern Mongolia. In North America, moose live in Canada, Alaska and the northeastern United States.

Concerning natural areas habitats, moose usually settle in coniferous and mixed forests with swamps, quiet rivers and streams; in the forest-tundra - along birch and aspen forests; along the banks of steppe rivers and lakes - in floodplain thickets; in mountain forests - in valleys, on gentle slopes, plateaus. Elk prefer forests with dense undergrowth and young growth, avoiding tall, monotonous forest areas.

Moose live more or less sedentary and do not move around too much. Making short journeys in search of food, they remain for a long time within the same area. In summer, the area where elk live and feed is wider than in winter. From places where snow cover reaches 70 cm or more in winter, mammals migrate to less snowy areas. This is typical for the regions of the Urals, Siberia, and the Far East. The first to leave are the moose cows with their calves, followed by the males and females without offspring. In the spring, moose return to their usual habitats in the reverse order.

Moose live mostly alone or in small groups. In winter, animals gather in herds in places where there is more food and less snow. Such favorable places, in which there is a lot of food and a lot of individuals gather, are called a “camp” in Russia, and a “yard” in Canada. In the spring, the moose disperse again.

What does moose eat?

Elk is a herbivorous animal that feeds on trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants, mosses, lichens, and mushrooms. The type of food changes with the changing seasons. In summer, the main food of animals is leaves of trees and shrubs, aquatic plants, and grasses. The best food elk eat are the leaves of rowan, ash, maple, buckthorn, bird cherry, and willow. Mammals also love marsh, aquatic and semi-aquatic plants: water lilies, egg capsules, marigolds, horsetails. In spring and early summer they are large quantities eat sedge. Among the herbs they prefer are tall, juicy umbrella herbs, fireweed or fireweed, and sorrel growing in burnt areas and clearings. By the end of summer, moose eat mushrooms, blueberry branches and lingonberries with berries. In the fall, moose's diet also includes bark and fallen leaves. In September, animals begin to bite shoots and branches of trees and shrubs, and by November they almost completely switch to tree food: branches, pine needles, bark. In the first half of winter, moose prefer to feed on deciduous trees and shrubs, and in the second half – on coniferous trees. Winter food for moose includes willow, fir, and rowan. Animals also eat bark during a thaw, or in the southern regions, where it does not freeze as much as in the north, they eat lichens, finding them on trees during a thaw or on the ground under the snow. From under the snow, mammals also obtain rags of sedge and berry bushes. In winter, moose drink very little water and do not eat snow so as not to lose heat.

IN different parts habitat, elk can consume a variety of foods. Very often, animals in one region do not eat food at all, which they eat with pleasure in another region. An adult moose eats up to 35 kg of food per day in summer and 12-15 kg in winter.

In addition, moose love salt very much and visit natural or artificial salt licks almost everywhere: they gnaw salt-rich soil, lick stones, and drink brackish water. Salt licks serve as a source of minerals for moose.

Moose do not have a specific feeding or resting time during the day. In the summer, with the appearance of blood-sucking insects (,) and the onset of heat, they rest more during the day, lying down in cool or damp places, in clearings where the wind blows, lie in shallow waters, and periodically go into water up to their necks. They feed mainly at dawn or at night. In winter, feeding and resting periods alternate several times a day. During severe frosts, elk lie down a lot, sinking into loose snow, wandering into the thicket under the cover of young coniferous trees. During the rut, animals are active at any time of the day.

Why does moose eat fly agarics?

Life expectancy of moose.

Life expectancy of moose favorable conditions is 20-25 years. But in nature this period is much shorter and often does not exceed 10 years. Most moose die early: from natural enemies, and, from disease, at the hands of a person for whom elk is the most important game animal, they drown at river crossings during ice drift. Young moose calves cannot withstand the cold during long springs.

Types of moose, photos and names.

The genus of moose has always been considered to consist of one species - elk (lat. Alces Alces). Within the species, several American, European and Asian subspecies were distinguished. Thanks to modern achievements genetics, a new classification has been defined, according to which the genus of elk (Latin Alces) includes 2 species: European elk and American elk. The number of subspecies is still undetermined and will likely change.

Species Alces Alces (Linnaeus, 1758) – European (eastern) elk
- Subspecies Alces Alces Alces (Linnaeus, 1758) – European moose
- Subspecies Alces Alces caucazicus (Vereshchagin, 1955) – Caucasian elk
Species Alces Americanus (Clinton, 1822) – American Elk (Western)
- Subspecies Alces Americanus Americanus (Clinton, 1822) – eastern Canadian moose
- Subspecies Alces Americanus Cameloides (Milne-Edwards, 1867) – Ussuri elk

Below is a description of the current species of moose.

European moose (lat.Alces Alces) in Russia it is often called elk. The length of the elk reaches 270 cm, and the height at the withers is 220 cm. The European elk weighs up to 600-655 kg. Females are smaller in size. The color of the animal is dark or black-brown, with a black stripe on the back. The end of the muzzle and legs below are light. Upper lip, belly and inner parts of legs are almost white. In summer the color is darker. Moose antlers with a well-developed spade, up to 135 cm in span. The European moose lives in Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, the European part of Russia, the Urals, Western Siberia to the Yenisei and Altai.

– sometimes this species is called East Siberian. It has a multi-colored color: the upper body and neck are rusty or gray-brown; the belly, lower sides and upper parts of the legs are black. In summer the color is darker, in winter it is lighter. The weight of an adult moose varies from 300 to 600 kg or more. Body dimensions are approximately the same as Alces Alces. Moose antlers have a widely divided spade. The anterior process, separated from the shovel, branches. The span of the horns reaches more than 100 cm. The width of the shovel reaches 40 cm. The moose lives in Eastern Siberia, in the Far East, in Northern Mongolia, in North America.

Elk is a truly huge animal, and therefore a particularly valuable object of hunting. The weight of the largest specimens can be around half a ton, this is a large amount of tasty healthy meat. In addition, elk skin was used for sewing various products, and antlers were used for crafts. Even in principle, catching such a large animal is a great pleasure. After all, this is a difficult task that can be accomplished by experienced hunters who know the habits of animals well.

Appearance

Elk is a mammal of the deer family, has a body length of up to three meters, a height at the withers of more than two meters, and weighs 350-600 kg. Quite long legs with large hooves connected by movable membranes help move over uneven terrain: swamps, windfalls. Hooves also serve to protect against predatory animals and other enemies. A blow from such a leg is very dangerous for a person.

It has powerful horns that are widened like a shovel and divided into parts at the ends. Young males have smaller horns; with age they increase and in an adult animal they can reach 20 kilograms in weight. Antlers grow annually, starting in spring, and by winter the elk sheds them. Females do not have horns. Due to its resemblance to the agricultural implement plow, the moose is called elk.

Compared to the long legs and large muzzle, the body seems short, as does the neck. The chest is very wide. On the back there is something like a hump in the area of the nape; another hump-like growth of cartilage adorns the muzzle. The eyes are small, dull, the ears are pointed, long and wide. He hears well, but sees worse.

The coat is long, thick, and consists of a thin spine with a fluffy undercoat. There is a dark mane that extends from the back of the head to the neck and chest. The main color of the coat is reddish-brown, lighter in winter than in summer.

Moose nutrition

The moose lives almost throughout the entire territory of Russia, and is found in the forest zone of Eurasia, North America. Lives in both deciduous and coniferous forests, preferring the former. Although he has more preferred places for each season, this is due to the food supply.

The elk diet includes more than 800 plant species. These are grasses, shrubs, shoots of conifers and deciduous trees, branches. On average, one individual eats up to 5 tons of various food per year. Favorite delicacies are shoots of willow, aspen, rowan, oak, and pine. Loves birch, dandelions in spring, as well as marsh reeds and reeds. The muzzle is equipped with long lips that help it easily break branches. It deftly removes bark from trees with its teeth.

In addition to food, moose need large quantities water.

Autumn-winter migrations depend on the depth of snow cover. When it increases, moose move to less snowy areas, where it is easier to move and get food. If the snow cover does not exceed half a meter in a given area, animals can lead a sedentary lifestyle.

Moose are known to love water: they happily spend time in rivers and lakes, where they escape from midges and heat. Interestingly, moose can eat not only coastal vegetation, but also aquatic vegetation, diving for it and staying under water for up to several minutes.

Moose lifestyle

Moose can be called lazy animals: they are quite sedentary. If most animals spend a lot of time feeding, after which they go to rest, the elk alternates all this. He will feed for a couple of hours, lie down for the same amount of time, and then eat again. It doesn’t matter where he lies down; he doesn’t choose a place: he can sink into a swamp or onto hard ground. It does not like to leave its feeding areas, if everything is in order, no one disturbs it, it can live on several hectares for two to three weeks. A kilometer or two passes in a day, although in winter it’s more. However, in case of danger or during the rut, it can cover up to 30 km per day.

By nature, this animal is not particularly cautious, self-confident, and not timid. The animal is considered somewhat clumsy: it often goes straight through the forest, because its powerful body allows it. When running away, the elk does not immediately start running, preferring to walk. Given the long legs, even this method of movement is quite fast.

Moose in nature stay alone, sometimes in small groups. Most often this is a female and her small or grown elk calves that follow the mother. Surprisingly, moose calves grow very quickly, outstripping even domestic animals: daily weight gain can be one and a half to two kilograms. Yes, when good conditions The weight of the animal can be:

at birth – 8-10 kg;
at 6 months – 150-170 kg;
at 1.5 years – 300 kg.

In captivity, the life expectancy of an elk can be 25 years, but in natural conditions the maximum age is 15 years; on average, in the wild, elk live 10-12 years.

Natural enemies are wolves, lynxes, wolverines, and bears. Wolverine and the lynx, although smaller than the moose, defeat him thanks to a sudden attack from above from behind: they immediately bite the carotid artery. Wolves usually overpower moose in winter, when the latter are weakened. And of course, the number of wolves is reduced by the people who hunt them.

Reproduction in moose

The time when moose lose their regularity and calmness is the rut. It usually occurs in late summer - early autumn. Lasts about two months. Males during this period are very nervous, irritated, and restless. Better for people Don't meet them at this time. You can often hear the voice of a moose. In general, he rarely screams, low and very loud. However, during the rut, the voice of the elk resembles the sounds made by a red deer, only the mighty beast cries intermittently. This is how the male calls his rivals to fight. The contractions can be very fierce, sometimes the horns suffer. Older deer often do not allow young animals to approach females at all. This happens in areas where there are more moose than moose cows. And the more unequal the ratio, the stronger the rivalry.

Sometimes, on the contrary, there are fewer males, since they more often die from hunters’ shots. Then the elk can walk with several moose cows during one rut. Moreover, these animals are prone to monogamy, that is, the male may well spend time with one girlfriend. If he covers several, then he spends a week or two with each one. Before this, the elk calmly and politely courtes, without aggression or pressure, waiting for her friend to respond favorably. However, towards people, especially if moose often meet with them and are not afraid, they can be so aggressive that they even attack.

Females carry their young for about 37 weeks. During the first birth, they usually bring one baby, and then two, often of different sexes. The birth of triplets is also common. Babies are born in April. Like most ungulates, they immediately try to get to their feet as soon as their mother licks them. At first they walk unsteadily, the moose pushes and supports them with her muzzle. After three or four days, the offspring quite successfully runs after the mother. It is interesting that moose calves feed on milk for a long time, until the next estrus. If we take into account that the cubs grow quickly, then by the end of summer they already have to lie down on the ground in order to get to the coveted udder.

Young moose reach full maturity at two years.