Moose Kisses

This mama moose and her twin calves were chased down the hillside behind my house by a pack of coyotes, and a mountain lion. They came running down... more

by LeAnne Perry

Title

Moose Kisses

Artist

LeAnne Perry

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

This mama moose and her twin calves were chased down the hillside behind my house by a pack of coyotes, and a mountain lion. They came running down the street and took refuge in the pond on the first green of the golf course across the street from where I live in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. They spent the whole day relaxing and munching away in the pond and later that evening snuck out under the cover of darkness. I spent the entire day watching them. It was such a treat! Here's a little bit of moose information:
A dozen moose transplanted in 1978 found an ideal safe harbor in Colorado's high country, multiplying rapidly and migrating across the Rocky Mountains. Colorado's Shiras moose (Alces alces shirasi) are Colorado's largest big game animal with adults weighing 800 to 1,200 pounds. The term moose comes from the Algonquin Indian word meaning "eater of twigs," and the most common place to find moose is where there is lots of brush. They can be found in sagebrush, high in the mountains above timberline, as well in the more traditional willow, aspen, pine, and beaver pond-type habitats. Moose often roam alone and, with dark fur, practically disappear in pine forests. They are velvety-horned ungulates lacking upper front teeth, relying on lower incisors to munch up to 70 pounds a day of vegetation. They swim well and run at speeds up to 50 mph. While their vision is blurry, they have keen ears and heavy, bulbous noses that precisely pick up smells. Long, coarse fur keeps moose warm at timberline and above. Cows give birth in May and June and twins are common in good habitat.

Uploaded

October 23rd, 2015