Moose Facts

November 13, 2020

Moose are a common sight at our Outposts. But Dave and I experienced watching a Bull swim the narrows this fall right here at the base. This is only the second moose that I have seen in our little bay on Pine Lake in 43 years living here. A male moose is a bull, female is a cow, and baby moose are calves. You may have seen moose in our area before, but how many of these facts about moose do you know?

1. You probably knew that they were big, but I mean they are really big. Moose are HUGE The average female weighs 771 lbs and the average males weigh 881 lbs . They can get up to 1,800 lbs! Their average length is just shy of 8′ to just under 10′. A bull moose’s antlers can spread up to six feet from end to end.

2. Bull Moose shed their antlers every year. After a male moose is a year old, he grows antlers that increase in size and weight each year. Then a yearly cycle starts where the antlers begin to grow on bull moose in the Spring and continue growing until September when the velvet that covers the antlers dries and falls off. Moose often rub their antlers on trees which help the velvet come off. Eventually sometime between mid-November and March the antlers will fall off. (Which doesn’t hurt them by the way.)

3. Calves can grow quickly and outrun a person by the time they are 5 days old. A baby moose (called a calf) grows at an incredible pace during its first year of life. Calves are born in the spring, gain about one to two pounds a day, and later end up gaining five pounds a day!

4. In the Algonquin language, moose means eater of twigs. Yes, moose are herbivores! They must eat all day to fill up. The name moose originated from the Algonquin word “moz” or “mons” depending on the dialect, which means twig eater. They eat any kind of vegetation and require almost 10,000 calories each day. Like cows, moose have four-chambered stomachs.

5. Moose are powerful swimmers. A moose can dive 20 feet under water and stay under water for up to 30 seconds! They can also swim fairly fast considering their size: up to six miles an hour. Moose hair is hollow, which helps them stay afloat while swimming or while eating. It also helps to keep moose warm in the winter.

6. Moose can live up to 20 years. Many moose (more than 50%) are killed by predators like wolves or bear while they are still calves. However, if they can survive predators and hunters, they can live up to 20 years. The moose hunting in Ontario is carefully regulated and monitored.

7. Moose only live in places that have snow cover in the winter. Moose prefer colder climates, making our neck of the woods the perfect place to live. They cannot take heat much over 80 F (27C). During a hot summer day, you’ll see them in the water trying to cool off.

8. Moose are part of the deer family. Moose are the biggest member of the deer family. They are also the tallest mammals in North America.

9. One last quick fact: A moose can kick in any direction with its front hooves.

If you have been to any of our beautiful outposts, there is a good chance you may have seen a moose or even multiples. If you haven’t, now is the time to experience the great outdoors here at Nestor Falls Fly-In Outposts.

Escape to the Wilderness

Dave, Michelle, & Jon