Moose are one of those animals that visitors love to see. In the early days of Yellowstone, it was rare to see a moose. Today, they can be hard to find, but if you work at it, it is possible.
They’re not as romantic as wolves or bears, but they seem to excite us when we get a chance to watch one browse through the marshy areas around the park. So, how do you find a moose? Start at a visitor center. Ask the rangers if they have heard of any sightings lately. Dawn and dusk seem to be the best times of day, so get out early.
Moose love wetlands and lakes. In the wetlands, they browse on leaves and twigs of willow, gooseberry and buffaloberry bushes. On lakes, moose take advantage of the aquatic plants like water lilies, duckweed or burweed. Moose are excellent swimmers.
Moose mate in the fall. With an eight month gestation, the cows give birth to two or three calves in May or June. The calves must grow fast to survive living in Yellowstone’s harsh environment.
In winter, moose will often move up into mature fir forests. Moose move from tree to tree browsing on needles and twigs. They eat as much as 26 lbs of food a day in summer, half that in winter.
An adult moose can be 6 to 7 feet at the shoulders. Males weigh as much as 1000 lbs; females as much as 900 lbs. Both sexes have a “bell” or dewlap, a furry piece of skin that hangs below their chin. Their bell seems to have no purpose.
With wolves being reintroduced and natural processes like fire being self regulating, the population has decreased. Today’s researchers believe that Yellowstone is home to around 500 moose.
Moose are one of the most dangerous animals in the park. They scare me more than bears do. They may appear gangly and clumsy but they’re ornery and fast. Use every precaution when in moose habitat.