CRITTERS OF NORTH IDAHO: Moose

Spend any time in Coeur d’Alene and you’ll quickly take notice of the moose statues we have scattered about around here. That would be Mudgy Moose, and statues of him are displayed along the 2¼-mile trail along Lake Coeur d’Alene and through downtown Coeur d’Alene, corresponding with the locations Mudgy visits during a game of hide-and-seek with his best friend Millie Mouse in their own book, “Mudgy & Millie” (also be sure to check out their recent sequel, “Mudgy & Millie Adventures: Australia”!)

Mudgy and others of his species are the largest and heaviest deer in the world. However, where you live may determine what name you call this animal. Living in Eurasia, you’ll know this animal as the elk (admittedly, “Mudgy Elk” doesn’t have a ring to it). Here in America, we call it the moose, Alces alces. These animals can stand 5-6.5 feet tall at the shoulder and tip the scale at 1,800 pounds or so.

Male moose, or bulls, are well-known for sporting a massive set of broad, palmate-shaped antlers on their heads. These massive head ornaments can be up to 83 inches across and weigh up to 79 pounds! Can you imagine carrying a pair of antlers like these on your head? Bulls make good use of their antlers in September and October when they try to intimidate rival males in order to achieve the right to mate.

If looking tough doesn’t scare off the competition, the bulls must resort to violence. They lock antlers and fiercely shove against their opponent until one of the moose backs down. These battles can be brutal, and sometimes both fighters die in battle. In 2016, some hikers walking along the Bering Sea in Alaska stumbled across two bull moose that ended up frozen in ice with their antlers locked in combat.

If the moose succeeds at defeating his rival, it is up to the female, cow, moose to make the final decision, usually based on the size of his antlers. By now, your chances of finding a moose with antlers are slim. Like other deer, these animals shed their antlers during the winter.

Moose have a varied diet that changes with the time of year. Right now, many of their favorite spring and summertime foods like grass, forbs and water plants, are not growing or are largely inaccessible. Instead, they subsist mostly on shrubs and pine cones, but their broad hooves help them clear away snow to eat moss and lichens as well.

The hooves have another use as well: their broad shape evenly spreads out the moose’s weight, allowing them to walk easily through soft snow as if they were wearing snowshoes! This footgear has a similar use across muddy or marshy ground in the summertime.

Moose are amazing creatures. Its their ability to adapt to a variety of different habitats that allows them to thrive across the boreal forests, temperate broadleaf and mixed forests of Canada, Alaska, New England, the Pacific Northwest and Eurasia.

The uniqueness of their headgear keeps them appearing in our wildlife documentaries, children’s books, and even in downtown Coeur d’Alene!

HOMESCHOOL PROJECT

PLASTIC MOOSE REPLICA

Here is another exciting project for you.

Did you know you can turn milk into plastic? Turning milk into plastic is done in minutes with only milk and vinegar.

MATERIALS NEEDED:

1 Cup Whole Milk

4 Tbl. White Vinegar

Bowl

Pot

Measuring Cup

Strainer

Spoon

Paper Towels

Silicone Mold (Moose)

Acrylic Paint

Paint Brush(es)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Pour milk in a pot to warm it. You want it hot, but NOT boiling.

2. Pour hot milk in a bowl.

3. Stir in vinegar.

The milk will start to clump or curdle immediately as the acid in the vinegar breaks down the protein in the milk. The curdling is the casein in the milk. Stir for about 1 minute.

4. Strain the liquid through a strainer. All the clumps will stay in the strainer. Press the clumps to get all the liquid out.

5. Transfer the clumps to some paper towels and continue to press all the liquid out of the plastic.

6. Now you are ready to put the plastic in your mold.

After filling your mold, set it aside to dry for approximately two days. The length of drying time will vary. Depending on the time of year, the temperature in your house or even if the climate is dry or humid. Check its hardness before attempting to remove it from the mold.

Once it is completely hard, it is ready to paint or leave it as is.

OPTIONS:

1. You can shape it free hand and paint it with a non-toxic acrylic paint after it is dry.

2. You can add few drops of food coloring to the plastic after getting all the liquid out. Then shape it using a mold or cookie cutter.

If you have been finding these projects helpful please let us know. We would love your feedback.

Project provided by Angel Dominiq, angeldominiq13@gmail.com.

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Christian Ryan can be reached at animaladventures1314@gmail.com.