Need a question answering or can you answer one of the questions below?
Need a question answering or can you answer one of the questions below?
During the latter part of 1999 my web page has become more popular and the number of visitors is such that I have been receiving a larger quantity of e-mails.
Those in the form of compliments I have added to my feedback page but occasionally I am asked questions regarding moose and their environment. Unfortunately I am not a qualified zoologist but do have a reasonable knowledge of the subject.
Here are a number of questions that I could not answer. I will pass on any information received to the interested parties but I cannot validate every reply. If you have an answer, an addition or a correction, please mail me at elk@smouse.force9.net.
Questions in 'red' are as yet unanswered and questions in 'blue' have their most descriptive answer is highlighted in bold :-
| Q1 | What is the purpose of the "bell" that hangs from a moose's neck? |
| A1(a) | The purpose of the bell that hangs from the neck of the bull moose is to warn other bulls, during the rut season, that a cow has already been mated. The moose does this by damping the bell in a patch of ground covered in urine and then marking rear of the cow. |
| A1(b) | The bell on a moose has no known purpose. It may increase in size each year like each successive set of antlers but can't be used to estimate the age of the animal as it often freezes off. |
| A1(c) | From the book, "Deer of the World", Valerius Geist states that the function of the peculiar, hairy skin fold remains much debated. However it is of interest to note that the rutting bull splashes the bell with urine-soaked mud. The bell may therefore be an organ for holding and distributing scent but as for warning of other bulls that a cow has been mated, this is not true. This she does by termination of the pheromones which attract males as to her sexual condition. |
| Q2 | What is a moose's normal body temperature? |
| A2(a) | A moose’s normal body temperature is 101-102 degrees. |
| Q3 |
What do the initials "FHC" and "PAP" appearing on items belonging to the "Loyal Order of Moose" signify? |
| A3(a) | The answer is "Faith Hope Charity" and "Purity Aid & Prosperity". |
| A3(b) | Advised that "PAP" should really be "Purity Aid & Progress". |
| Q4 | How do moose know when winter is coming and where do they go? |
| A4(a) | During the winter moose generally stay on higher ground and tend to be quite nomadic. They need to stay warm and find food to stay alive. |
| A4(b) | Moose tread down an area of snow in the forest and spend the winter there to feed and for mutual protection. This area is know as a "mooseyard". |
| Q5 | What is the collective noun for a group of moose? |
| Q5(a) | It's a herd. |
| Q6 | When is the moose dropping festival in Alaska? |
| Q6(a) | In 2000 it was held on the 7/8th July in Talkeetna. |
| Q7 | How fast can moose run? |
| A7(a) | Moose can run up to 35 miles per hour and can often out run wolves, one of their main predators. |
| Q8 | What is the sound that a moose makes called? |
| A8(a) | The sound a moose makes is often locally called a "bawl". |
| A8(b) | A moose call or vocalization is a "grunt", especially for bulls. Cows tend to prolong their call to the point of being a "wail". |
| Q9 | Can moose walk across frozen lakes? |
| A9(a) | Yes. They also appear to be able to judge when it is safe. |
| Q10 => | Is there such a thing as 'International Moose Day' and if so, what date is it held? |
| Q11 => | How high can a moose jump? |
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12-Oct-2006: