MOOSE
Moose
Every creature is better alive than dead, men and moose and pine trees, and he who
understands it aright will rather preserve its life than destroy it.
-- Henry David
Moose (Alces alces) have long, slim legs that end in cloven, or divided, hooves often more than 18 cm long. The body is deep and massively muscled at the shoulders, giving the animal a humped appearance. It is slab-sided and low-rumped,
with rather slender hindquarters and a stubby, well-haired tail. The head is heavy and compact, and the nose extends in an arch terminating in a long, flexible upper lip. The ears resemble a mule’s but are not quite as long.
Most moose have a pendant of fur-covered skin, about 30 cm long, called a bell, hanging from the throat. A bull moose in full spread of antlers is the most imposing beast in North America. It stands taller
at the shoulder than the largest saddle horse. Big bulls weigh up to 600 kg in most of Canada. The moose is the largest member of the deer family.
In my travels to Algonquin Park, I was most fortunate to capture these images of young moose in the wild. It is the experience of a lifetime to be so close to these majestic creatures.
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