The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-02-02
WAYS OF THE MOOSE
CHARACTERISTICS or THE NoeLEsI
or ALL WILD ANIMALS.

tn& or Exttmce-The Alasknm Bul
Moose Have the Greatest Antiers
The Cow and Her Unxainly Calf.
Now and then In wanderings through
the mountain and forest one comes up,
on 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 It 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 pair Of widespreading
antlers. very heavy and much fiattened
or 'plamated" He stalks the forest
through underground and over fallen
trunks like a king Of giants, or, II
alarmed, he speeds away at an amaz-
ingiy swift swinging trot and with a
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 riv-
er. Wyoming. II Is also found in
northern Maine, New Brunswick,
southern Canada, Idaho. British Colum-
bia, Alberta, Athabasca, Yukon and
Alaska. It is strictly 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 saplings
the moose rears up against them. strad-
ding them with bis long legs and lit
erally riding them down. he In fond
est Of birch, hemIock. alder, aspen, vii.
low and maple. He also eats mosses
and lichens.
In May the cow" On the female |
moose Ia called, gives birth 10 q long |
legged. ungainly. tawny colorcd calf. !
to protect which the mother viii fight |
any woodland creature to the death. |
She has no antlers, but she can use
her great sharp hoofs with the skill OF |
q 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
er for two or three years, or until he
wanders of to seek a mate for him
self. One day last summer / came sud
denly upon a cow moose standing knee
deep in a shallow pond, while from
beneath her neck her grotesque looking
calf peered out at me with eyes wide
open, as If with astonishment. / hur-
ned home and returned with n camera,
but when reached the spot they were
gone.
Like all American deer, the 'bull'
moose sheds and renews his antlers
.yery gear. They become full grown.
hard and sharp about the 1st Of 0cto-
DER, the beginning of the breeding sea-
ION. At this time of year the bulls are
Tery savage and not only fight furious
y among themselves, but are apt to
lttack anything or anybody who comes
n their way.
The call Of the bull is long drawn
'awl with several loud grunts at the
nd. If there Is cow within hearing
he will answer with a low cry, and
he bull will come forward to meet
er. Hunters often take advantage Of
his fact and attract the bull by an
of the call of the COW, exc =
uted on a cone shaped horn made Of !
irch bark. Lying concealed on the
ank Of lake or stream, they give
ut the call, and when the bull comes
'ithin range they shoot him. But as
bis trick Is usually played at night ,
nd as the bull sometimes never gives ,
ny warning OF his coming until he Ia
lmost on the spot the sport is apt to
e dangerous. The bull at such time
J in no mood to be trified with, and
Mess the hunter Is cool headed and q
oOd shot the moose is not only willing
ut very able to kill him and dozen
ke him IL they happen TO be on the a
pot.
Probably the largest moose Of which 9
here is reliable record was shot by
arl Rungius. the animal painter. in
'ew Brunswick in 1901. This great
east stood seven feet high at the
and the length Of its head
nd body together was nine feet seven
lches. The Alaskan moose have the
rgest antlers, and one pair from an
nimal shot on the Kenai peninsula
as spread Of seyenty-eight and &
LIZ inchna and har thirtr- four r,oinAn