MOOSE MISCELLANEOUS

 

ANTLER STRUCTURE:

Most species have one basic antler design that varies little except by number of points. In my columns on antlers, I deliberately refrained from bringing up that moose have 3 distinct antler structures. See picture.

The cervicorn structure is the earliest and most primitive design and is the only antler design in the Manchurian moose of northeast China. The full palmicorn (or shell) design developed from the cervicorn structure and is the most dominant design in moose of West Siberia and Europe. The split-palm (or butterfly) design is a more recent form and is the dominant design from Outer Mongolia through East and Northeast Siberia and all of North America.

The cervicorn pattern is retained in moose ontogeny. Therefore any palmicorn moose population can produce individuals with cervicorn antlers. During the Minnesota moose hunts in the 1970’s we measured moose antlers and recorded the antler structure of moose taken by hunters. Cervicorn antlers were found on 4% of bulls.

SEEKING SODIUM:

Sodium is a critical nutrient that is often quite limited in terrestrial vegetation. Many species actively search for additional sources in order to meet their needs. Moose are no exception and sometimes they will put up with considerable human presence while obtaining it.

It is a small wonder that moose are often seen licking salt on roads that were treated with it to reduce ice. Usually they are standing or kneeling, but I have seen a few that were lying down on the road at the time. Sometimes moose come to a vehicle and lick salt build-up on it. Such licks are not gentle; they put considerable pressure into the licks and one can actually feel the vehicle move slightly.

There are a couple of down-sides to road salt. One is that it can result in an increase in moose-vehicle collisions. Another is that in spring the salt is washed off the road and into the ditch. There it either builds up in the soil or enters a stream. An extreme example of this is a stretch of highway in Ontario near the town of Wawa where about 20 metric tons of salt used to be applied (perhaps still is) per kilometer of road each winter. The run-off into the ditches created permanent salt licks which resulted in numerous moose-vehicle collisions in snow-free seasons too. Such salt licks are especially attractive to moose.

Moose use of lakes, ponds, and other aquatic habitats is also largely explained by their seeking of sodium. Aquatic plants often have sodium concentrations of 100 (or more) times that of terrestrial vegetation (on a dry weight basis). They contain higher amounts of digestible crude protein and gross energy than do terrestrial plants. Also, they tend to grow in rather dense stands so moose can consume a large quantity of food in a short time without having to walk around searching for each bite as is often the case with terrestrial vegetation. Thermoregulation during hot weather and relief from biting insects are additional benefits of utilizing aquatic habitats.

CROP DEPREDATION:

One does not usually think of moose as having a significant impact on crops other than timber production on regenerating aspen stands. However moose browsing damage costs the Swedish forest industry $133 million per year. In 2004 there were approximately 350,000 moose in Sweden and one of their favorite foods is also one of the most important timber species.

Moose are also known for causing damage to vegetable crops. A report from Newfoundland said their moose cause serious damage to fields of cabbage and other closely related vegetables. They tried fencing, but moose just knocked them down. They were considering using Karelian bear dogs to protect the fields, but were wondering if moose might just attack the dogs as they sometimes attack wolves. In Maine, crop depredation by moose on broccoli and cauliflower fields could not be relieved through their regular moose hunting seasons. A special moose hunt was held in the most affected area. They are still working on how to best control the problem.

At the height of the moose population in northwest Minnesota, it was common to see moose feeding in the commercial sunflower fields. Sunflowers and their seeds are very high quality food. I never heard how extensive the damage was to the fields.

MOOSE ATTACKS:

Most moose attacks are easily explained as the person had invaded the personal space of a moose or was unfortunate enough to suddenly be between, or too close to, a cow with a calf. Other times one (myself included) had approached a moose for a photo, then turned and walked away, and several seconds (or more) later heard the clomping of hooves approaching. I was able to get behind a vehicle after a short run, but a friend was in a similar situation in Yukon and got a few cracked ribs out of the situation. Another friend was tagging moose in Alaska and while he was watching a moose, the one he had tagged the day before came from behind and he also got a few cracked ribs. The above are quite mild compared to what moose are capable of doing.

Some moose attacks are so violent and persistent that the moose can only be described as being in a rage. I am aware of a case of this locally (fortunately they were able to seek shelter until they could kill it) and of similar reports in other areas; all have involved cows. Bears are serious predators of moose calves and it is well accepted among moose biologists that a human resembles a bear standing on its hind legs. A moose’s main defense against predators is to fight; if it recently had a bad experience with a bear, it could trigger an attack. Sometimes a moose may have had too many bad experiences with people. I recall one situation where some people teased and pestered a moose repeatedly; it later killed an innocent elderly man with very poor eyesight who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.