Behaviour - to and of moose ...


 

First some tips how to act yourself when coming in contact with moose

1.Moose can be very aggressive and unpredictable -

especially bulls in the mating season or cows with their calves. See it as a natural, normal thing and keep it in mind - they look funny and one might feel like cuddling them - but they are no toys , but wild animals.
If they lay back the ears and/or their hair on their "hump" stands up - take care- it is a sign of anger or fear.

2. If encountering a moose -

keep distance. If he charges you, a tip from a Canadian ranger was to find a big tree - you are more mobile than the moose and can run around the tree (who is more stubborn to end this I never tried ...)

3. More tips in case of moose attacks -

Raise the hands and spread the fingers, but keep it still and don't wave - the moose might see you as a bigger animal and stop attacking
OR
Get down on the ground and keep still and try to cover your head.
Also here - which one works and might be better likely noone can tell. Better don't get into such a situation.





The behaviour of moose

A day in moose life :

Moose are active throughout the day, but with activity peaks during dawn and dusk.

 

In case of threat :

When a moose perceives a threat, which mainly derives from heard or smelled irrutations as the moose has a poor visual sense, he shows usually one of two reactions:
He can either try to be very calm and silent, standing in the woods and waiting for the danger to vanish
OR to start running through the woods with head back (in order not get caught by branches in his way).

Social contacts between moose:

Moose are usually solitary animals not forming permanent groups . This changes for the following reasons:

- During mating season the bulls are quite interested in cows (of course), they battle with other bulls
- After the mating season "father groups" evolve, continuing their sparring until the antlers fall off - the time they separate again.
- During winter time they might form into small groups.  This is not to be regarded as social, but a survival behaviour. It mainly happens that "temporary moose yards" are made, when the snow is very high and crusty, so their movement is limited.  The temporary group tramples down the crusty snow and by that builds the "temporary moose yard", not being the same more stable yards white-tailed deer build.
- Cows keep together with their calves for at least a year, until the next offspring is coming - the strongest social bond. Then she drives off the calves born last year to have the energy for the newborn.

Signs of an agitated moose:

- Ears are dropped alongside his head
- The mane is advanced, as well as the hair along the spine
- The moose shows an angry glare
- Bull moose diplay their antlers by dropping their rack and toss their head