Moose Facts

The Moose is the Official State Animal of Maine.

Moose are large even-toed herbivorous mammals, the largest of the deer family.  Moose have very poor eyesight but their hearing and sense of smell are excellent. Moose vary in size and shape.  Their color varies from a little brown to a dusty black depending on the season and age  of the animal. Calves in comparison are often a light rusty color. They shed their winter coats in May-June , giving their coat a ragged look.

The moose of northern Maine are out more at certain times of the year.  May, June, September, October an december are the prime months with September and October being the best time to spot a fully antlered Bull.   During the hot summer months, the best viewing times are in the early morning and late afternoon when the air is cooler.

the vest moose viewing oportunity has to be seenin one in it’s own element, out in the woods, while you are hiking, canoeing, ATVing, or Snowmobiling.  You can take wonderful Moose Pictures yourself, all you need to do is remember to bring your camera.

Moose Statistics and Appearance

• Life span: 15-25 years
• Male moose weigh about 1200-1500 pounds
• Female moose weigh more than 900 pounds
• Newborns are about 33 pounds and will be 300-400 pounds by its first winter
• Average Body length: about 8.5 feet
• Average Height: 6-7 feet at the shoulders

Moose Antlers

Only the males have antlers, massive flattened ones averaging 5.5 feet across and 40 pounds in weight. These antlers have as many as 30 TINES (or spikes), the shape differing from animal to animal.

Mature males shed their antlers once a year in November/December and replace them with new larger ones beginning in the spring. They are formed of living tissue supplied by blood through a network of vessels covered with a soft smooth skin called VELVET. Eventually the tissue solidifies, the velvet is scraped off and the antlers become completely formed of mineralized dead matter. Their main function is for display during the rutting season (mating season which is Mid September to mid October) and to show dominance within the herd.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Tweet This Post