Special Sub-Topic: Moose on the Loose Click Here To Play: Moose on the Loose

What family of animals is the moose a member of?

deer. While a moose is closest in size to a draft horse, they are actually just a big deer- the biggest in the world to be exact. Some other North American deer family members are caribou, mule deer, elk, and white-tailed deer.

Being a native of North America, it is not surprising that "moose" is actually a word taken from the Native American Algonquin language. What does moose mean in Algonquin?

twig eater. If you have any idea as to what the moose's diet is comprised mainly of, twigs and bark, then this question is a no-brainer!

Moose are big, so they need to eat...a lot. Which of these things do moose turn their nose up at and NOT eat?

fish. If you've seen a happy moose rooting around in a pond- they're actually going for the aquatic pondweed, lily roots, and arrowhead and not the fish! Moose are herbivores.

Who is included in a moose family group?

a female moose and her young. A bull moose will put up with a cow's young during courtship but his interest in the female disappears after he has mated. At other times during the year, they will avoid a cow and her calf to avoid the wrath of this extremely protective mama.

While Bullwinkle always had loads to say, what is the main mode of communication?

vocally by grunting. Both bulls and cows have a similar low-pitched grunt with which they communicate. It may mean a different thing depending on how they say it, when they say it and to whom they are communicating and why. Watch yourself in trying to imitate them in the wild as it is illegal in many National Parks and unwise to do so unless you're very familiar with moose behavior and good at climbing trees!

Do all moose have antlers?

n. Only bull moose grow antlers- they are nature's gift to the male to help them display that they are healthy and strong and should be considered as a mate. They're also helpful when it comes to fighting off competing males who are also healthy and strong and vying for some female attention.

What exactly are moose antlers made of?

hardened bone. While they start out as soft, fleshy tissue and are covered with soft, smooth velvet- antlers are hardened bone.

What is the material covering the antlers called?

velvet. The fur-covered skin covering a moose's antlers is called velvet because it is extremely soft. It is actually skin containing blood vessels and yet every fall, the velvet dries up and begins to peel off. Bull moose can often be seen scraping their antlers against tree or rocks to hurry this process along.

So, what type of environment would you be most likely to find a moose in?

dense forestland surrounding a pond. Moose are pretty predictable, while they have been known to graze in grassy areas, they are most easily found in their feeding areas. They prefer boggy areas and return to them on a methodical schedule of early morning and early evening and sometimes even noontime snacks. They prefer wooded areas for obvious reasons of cover- when you're 7 feet tall not many rocks are going to hide you!

What state would you be least likely to find a moose in?

Rhode Island. While moose are found throughout the U.S. and Canada- hotspots are definitely Vermont, NH, and Maine.