Shiras Moose Research Paper

The Shiras Moose The shiras moose is the largest member of the deer family. They are very long legged and comparable in size to an oversized horse. They have huge heads with soft lips, so they can feel around for the leaves they eat off trees. Moose have a very muscular neck so they can hold up this huge head and the males can hold up their antlers. They are in the alces genus and the shirasi species. Moose are very large mammals that live in cold climates. They are covered in thick fur, they have long, guard hairs, which are from 10 to 25 cm long. These hold air to keep them insulated in the winter. Moose have toes that are up to 18 cm long, which they can spread apart to walk on swampy marshes. When a full grown moose is moving quickly the hoofprints are up to twelve feet apart. Moose like to spend much of their time by water, eating grass, leaves, and tasty green leaves. Moose can’t see very well at all, they can’t make out anything that isn’t moving. However, they can smell 100 times better than a human. They have a different coat for summer and winter, which they shed in the fall and spring, respectively. …show more content…
The shiras moose lives in the conifer and aspen forests in the Rocky Mountains, always near water. The moose’s habitat revolves around water, so much so that moose, despite being almost a thousand pounds, can swim six miles a hour. Moose have been known to swim for hours at a time, great distances. Moose like to live in areas with a high density of vegetation. They live in large brush patches, bellowing their call for miles to attract other moose. Moose and deer live in harmony, but the moose doesn’t get help from any creature. Bear, wolves, and mountain lions all like to prey on moose, but a full grown moose is too much of a battle for most of these predators. However, a weak, or young moose might succumb to an