Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1905-01-25
WAYS OF THE MOOSE
CHARACTERISTICS OF The MODEST
OF ALL WILD ANIMALS.

OF ALL WILD ANIMALS.
The Largest of the Deer Family. Lfv-
ing or Extfnct-The Alaskan Bull
Moose Have the Greatest Antier.
The Cow and Her UnxaisIy Calf.
Now and then I'm wanderings through
the mountain and forest one comes I'D
On n gigantic blackish brown deer
which by reason OF the great length OF
It's yellowish gray legs stands higher
than tall horse 1t is clothed In
coarse. bristly hair, longest on the neck
and shoulders. and IL has a rather ugly
overhanging nose which distinguishes
IL at once from al other kinds OF deer
From the throat OF the male hangs a
long hair covered appendage known as
the bel" and In the fall and winter
he has also a pair OF widespreading
antlers, very heavy and much flattened
or ''plamated-" He stalks the forest
through underground and over fallen
trunks Ike a king OF giants. or. IL
alarmed. be speeds away at an amaz-
ingly swift swinging trot and with a
crashing which resembles the sound OF
falling trees. Such IS the moose. the
largest OF all deer. living OF extinct.
The moose is chiefly an animal OF the
northern woods. the southern limit OF
It's range being the head OF Green riv-
or. Wyoming. Ii is also found in
northern Maine. New Brunswick.
southern Canada. Idaho. British Colum-
bia. Alberta. Athabasca. Yukon and
Alaska. il is strictly a dwciier Of the
forest seldom yenturing 10 treeless
plains. II lives for the most part by
browsing on the leaves twigs and bark
OF trees. particularly young trees In
order TO reach the tops OF tall Saplings
the moose rears up against them. strad-
ding them with his long legs and 1T
orally riding them down lie is fond
est OF birch. hemlOck. alder. aspen. viii
low and maple. He also eats MOSES
and lichens.
In May the COW" as the female
moose IS called. gives birth to a long
legged. ungainly. tawny colored calf.
to protect which the mother will fight
any woodland creature To the death.
She has no antlers. but she can use
her great sharp h0ofs with the skill OF
n prize fighter and has been known 10
pound 10 death 4 large black bear and
| fairly trample his body into the
ground. The calf stays with its moth
er for two or three years. or until he
wanders or 10 seek 4 mate Tor him
self. One day last summer I came sud
| denly upon a COW moose standing knee
deep IN shallow pond. while from
/ beneath her neck her grotesCue looking
calf peered out at me with eyes wide
open. as II with aStOniShment. I hur-
ried home and returned with camera.
but when 1 reached the spot they were
gone.
Like all American deer. the dull"
/ moose sheds and renews his autlers
every year. They become full grown.
hard and sharp about the 1st of Octo-
/ Der. the beginning Of the breeding sea-
son. At this time OF year tie bulls are
very savage and not only fight furious
/ " among themselves, but arc apt 20
attack anything or anybody who comes
/ in their way.
/ The call OF the bull is l1lg drawn
\ bawl with several loud gruuts 40 tie
end II there IS COW within hearing
/ she will answer With low cry. and
/ the bull viii come forward 10 meet
/ her. Hunters often take advantage OF
I this fact and attract the bull by an
I imitation OF the cali OF the cow. exc
cuted on n cone shaped horn made OF
birch bark. Lying concealed on the
bank OF 4 lake or stream. they give
out the call. and when the bull comes
within range they shoot him. But rs
this trick is usually played az night
and as the bull sometimes never gives
any warning Of his coming until lie is
almost on the spot the sport is apt 10
be dangerous. The bull at such a time
is in no mood 10 be triflcd with. and
unless the hunter IS cool headed and q
good shot the moose IS not only willing
but very able 10 kill him and dozen
like him II they happen 10 Doe on the
spot
Probably the largest moose Of which
there is reliable record was shot by
Carl Rungius. the animal painter. I'm
New Brunswick in 1901 This great
. beast stood seven feet high NJ the
shoulders, and the length Of its mead
and body together was nine feet seven
inches. The Alaskan moose have the
largest antlers. and one pair from an
animal shot on the KenaI peninsula
has spread Of Seventy-eiCht and
half inches and has thirty-four points
/ With the dry skull 10 which they are
/ attached these antlerS weigh ninety
three and quarter pounds. a weight
which nothing but an animal Of gigan-
tic strength could carry at top speed
over the toughest ground and through
thfcklV wooded country
In the winter. when the snow is deep.
the moose. sometimes several families
together. will gather in certain sec
ton Of woodland and be breaking out
paths for themselves over 4 space OF
perhaps several acres from what IS
known rs q yard" where. If not dis
turbed, they may stay for weeks to-
gether. But the moose is able 10 travel
well at all seasons. and even in deep
snow his long legs enable him 10 move
At a pace which astoniSheS any hunter
who tries 10 run him down On snow
shoes
\ wild. free life is the only one on
which a moose can live and thrive In
captivity il is much less nervous than
most deer and is disposed 10 be semitic
and affectiOnate. But. as rule. il Will
live but a short time. even though il
gets the same food which il had in its
native woods. 1t may appear 20 relish
its food. but il Will grow 10 no great
size and in a short time will probably
die Of Inflammation Of the stomach
81. ~