Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1905-04-26
WAYS OF THE MOOSE
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MODEST
OF ALL WILD ANIMALS.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MODEST
OF ALL WILD ANIMALS.
The Largest of the Deer Family, Lfv-
| Ing or Extinct-The Alaskan Bull
| Moose Have the Greatest AntIers
The Cow and Her Ungainly Calf.
Now and then in wanderings through
the mountain and forest one comes up
on a gigantic blackish brown deer
which by reason of the great length of
Its yellowish gray legs stands higher
than tall horse. 1t is clothed in
coarse, bristly hair, longest on the neck
and shoulders, and 1t has a rather ugly
overhanging nose which distinguishes
it at once from all other kinds of deer.
From the throat of the male hangs a
long hair covered appendage known as
the "bell," 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 like king Of giants, or, II
alarmed. he speeds away at an amaz-
ingly swift swinging trot and with
crashing which resembles the sound Of
falling trees. Such is the moose, the
largest Of all deer, living or extinct.
The moose is chiefly an animal Of the
northern woods, the southern limit of
its range being the head Of Green r1v-
er, Wyoming. 1t is also found In
northern Maine, New Brunswick,
southern Canada, Idaho, British Column
bia, Alberta, Athabasca, Yukon and
Alaska. 1t is strictly a dweller Of the
forest, seldom venturing to treeless
plains. 1t 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 sapiings
the moose rears up against them, strad-
ding them with his long legs and lit
orally riding them down. He Is fond
est Of birch, hemlock. alder, aspen, will
low and maple. He also eats moses
and lichens.
In May the "cow," as the female
moose Is called, gives birth to 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 hoofs with the skill OF
a prize fighter and has been known to
pound to death large black bear and
fairly trample his body into the
ground. The calf stays with its moth
err for two or three years, or until he
wanders off to seek a. mate for him
SELF One day last summer came sud
denly upon COW moose standing knee
deep in q shallow pond, while from
beneath her neck her grotesque looking
calf peered out at me with eyes wide
open, as If with establishment. / hur-
Red home and returned with camera,
but when / reached the spot they were
gone
Like all American deer, the "bulp'
moose sheds and renews his antlers
every year. They become full grown,
hard and sharp about the list Of Octo-
Der, the beginning of the breeding sea-
SON. At this time of year the bulls are
very savage and not only fight furious
y among themselves, but are apt to
attack anything or anybody who comes
n their way.
The call Of the bull is long drawn
,awl with several loud grunts at the
md. If there is q cow within hearing |
he will answer with a low cry, and |
he bull will come forward to meet |
Ter. Hunters often take advantage Of |
his fact and attract the bull by an |
Of the call of the COW, exc
.uted on q cone shaped horn made OF |
birch bark. Lying concealed on the
,ank of q lake or stream, they give |
ut the call, and when the bull comes
within range they shoot him. But as
his trick Is usually played at night |
nd as the bull sometimes never gives
ny warning of his coming until he is
lmost on the spot the sport Is apt to
e dangerous. The bull at such time
) In no mood to be trif1ed with, and
Mess the hunter Is cool headed and
God shot the moose is not only willing
ut very able to kill him and a dozen
Ike him If they happen to be on the
pot.
Probably the largest moose of which
here Is reliable record was shot by
hn al notn nd In |
lew Brunswick In 1901. This great
east stood seven feet high at the
houlders. and the length Of its head
nd body together was nine feet seven
aches. The Alaskan moose have the
lrgest aItlers, and one pair from an
nimal shot son the Renal peninsula
as q spread of seyenty-eight and
alf inches and has thirty-four points.
With the dry skull to which they are
ttached these antlers weigh ninety
1ree and quarter pounds, a weight
'hich nothing bus an animal Of gigan-
c strength could carry at top speed
yer the toughest ground and through
lickly wooded country.
In the winter, when the snow Is deep,
ne moose. sometimes several families
,gether, will gather In certain Sec
on of woodland and be breaking out
aths for themselves over space Of
erhaps several acres from what is
nown as yard" where. If not dis
lrbed. they may stay for weeks to-
ether. But the moose Is able to travel
ell at all seasons, and even In deep
now his long legs enable him to move
t a pace which astonishes any hunter
tho tries to run him down on snow
hoes.
A wild, free life is the only one on
hich a moose can live and thrive. In
,ptivity 1t is much less nervous than
ost deer ana is disposed to be gentle
I'd affectionate. But, as a rule, 1t will
We but short time, even though II
cts the same food which 1t had In its
alive woods. 1t may appear to relish