Moose of Grand Teton | Alces alces | 2021 - 7

"The Standoff"

Moose of Grand Teton

Moose are the largest member of the deer family and love cold weather. They frequent marshy meadows and edges of lakes and streams. About 800 Moose inhabit the southern part of Yellowstone, Grand Teton National Park and surrounding national forests. Moose are most heavily concentrated in Grand Teton Park.

To keep from sinking in mud while feeding, as the animal lowers its foot, a large dewclaw spreads to better support the weight. Similarly, the odd-looking crook of the hind leg allows a Moose to pull the leg straight up, more easily releasing it from deep, sucking mud.

Bull Moose lose their antlers anytime between December and March. Most of the Moose drop them in January. Immature bulls may not shed their antlers for the winter but retain them until the following spring. Female Moose do not have antlers.

A new set of antlers begin to grow the following spring, nourished by the covering of furry skin known as velvet. They take three to five months to develop fully – the velvet is then scraped and rubbed off against bushes and branches. The antlers are then ready for battle. Generally, each set of antlers will be larger than the one before.

Birds, carnivores, and rodents eat dropped antlers as they are full of protein and Moose themselves will eat antler velvet for the nutrients.

Take note—cow Moose with young can be particularly dangerous.

For more info: www.yellowstonepark.com/things-to-do/wildlife/about-moose/

Taken on: November 18, 2021

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Alces alces

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Bull Moose

Conservation

Dark Stripper

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Deer Species

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Environmental

Grand Teton

Grand Teton National Park

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Nikon AF-S 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR

Nikon D5

Palmate Antlers

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Wyoming

Sets appears in: • Wildlife of Grand Teton | 2021

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Camera: Nikon D5, f/5.6, 1/400 sec, 500mm, ISO 400 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon D5
Lens:	500.0 mm f/5.6
Aperture:	f/5.6
Exposure Time:	0.003 sec (1/400)
Focal Length:	500mm
ISO:	400
Exposure Bias:	+1 EV
Flash:	No Flash
Exposure Program:	Manual
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic 11.0.1 (Macintosh)
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