Since our last SMOS Adventure, making animal traps and snares, was such a success we realized that cold weather and snow does not scare away our great SMOS members. If you are all willing to shrug off the winter weather then we are willing to offer you another SMOS Adventure. On December 10th, Gerhard Carlson will lead a group of people on a mile long hike out to his cabin where we will learn to make coal burned spoons.
View details and learn how to sign up at our Register For Adventures page
It is the beginning of May, and I’m bundled up in three layers of shirts under a winter jacket. My hair is tucked under a thick, wool cap, my feet fit snugly into mismatched black snow boots, and I am still struggling to free my fingers from a warm pair of gloves. Our car has the heat blasting, the radio blaring, and thermoses of half-consumed hot coffee lodged in every cup holder. Through the window, I stare at a mountainside blanketed in snow, firs poking up from the ground like candles in a cake. It is the beginning of May, and I am about to see my first moose.
Our caravan’s main purpose is not, in fact, moose-spotting. As part of a field ecology course at Washington State University, we are characterizing community types throughout Washington, mainly by examining vegetation. As a graduate student who studies plant invasion, I will be the first to admit that plants are awesome and often underappreciated members of an ecosystem. However, I will also confess that as we pull over and my advisor points animatedly to the open patch on the other side of the road, no one is gawking at the trees.
These Moose were Made for Walking (and Swimming!)
Our moose is female. She is smaller than a male bull, and lacks his characteristic antlers, which can span up to 6 feet. I later learn that the number of points per antler depends on health and age; after approximately five years, the forked antlers of young males develop into the palmate spread associated with the species. She watches us cautiously for a few moments before returning to forging. Tall shrubs, grasses, and pinecones are all on the menu until food becomes more plentiful. Her strong hooves can also scrape snow from the ground, exposing moss and lichen for consumption.
|
The Breakdown: Horns vs Antlers |
|
|
Horns |
Antlers |
|
Unforked |
Forked |
|
Permanent |
Shed annually |
|
Family Bovidae (Bovids) |
Family Cervidae (Deer Family) |
|
Often found on males and females |
Only found on males (except caribou) |
Though her hooves are helpful for finding food, they serve many other functions as well. On land they act as snowshoes, allowing her to navigate even soft snow, and in the water they transform into effective paddles—moose can swim for several miles at a time and even be completely submerged for up to 30 seconds. Our moose moves leisurely now, but, if prompted, she could reach a top speed of 35 miles per hour. As my friend Angela pulls out her camera, another student excitedly exclaims, “I think there’s another one!”
Another moose sighting likely signifies one thing: a calf. Excluding cows and their calves, moose are solitary creatures, who come together only to mate in September and October. Females are attracted to a male bull’s loud bellowing, and competing males may clash with antlers. Females give birth to a single calf (or rarely twins) when spring arrives. Indeed, our group spots a gangly young moose half-hidden behind a tree. She is even more wary than her mother, and has yet to reach her full size of between 600 and 800 pounds. Mother and daughter will stay together until the next mating season, when yearlings are often chased off so that another baby can be born.
Do Not Mess with a Moose
Our discovery is undeniably exhilarating; however, the presence of a mother and her calf warrants extra caution. Moose can be aggressive, especially if a mother feels her calf is threatened. Our group remains on the other side of the road, making sure to give the pair enough space. Other tips for a safe moose encounter like ours include:
- Avoiding hiking and camping with dogs in moose country (moose have been known to attack dogs due to their resemblance to wolves)
- Yielding to moose on the road while driving (attempting to move the moose may provoke it)
- Never feeding a moose
- Watching for signs of aggression (stomping, swinging head, raised hair on shoulders, ears flattened)
- Running if under attack (unlike predators such as cougars, moose are unlikely to chase you far, and you can move around obstacles faster)
- If knocked down, curling up, covering your head, and staying still is best until moose moves on (movement can trigger another attack)
References
- Myers, P., R. Espinosa, C. S. Parr, T. Jones, G. S. Hammond, and T. A. Dewey. (2006). Horns and antlers. Retrieved from http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/topics/mammal_anatomy/horns_and_antlers.html.
- National Geographic Society. (2011). Moose. Retrieved from http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/moose/.
- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. (2011). Living with wildlife. Retrieved from http://wdfw.wa.gov/living/moose.html.
Tags: biology, ecology, moose, moose biology, moose facts, wildlife
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently made public their proposal of a new Natural Area Preserve (NAP) near Northport, WA. The proposed Trombetta Canyon NAP, located about 2 miles south of Northport and right at SMOS’s backdoor, will protect two ecosystems that are rare in Washington – limestone dominated scrub-shrub and limestone dominated wetlands. The proposed preserve is a responsible decision for our environment and opens up wonderful opportunities for SMOS.
As a child, growing up at the northern mouth of Trombetta Canyon presented me with many great wilderness experiences. I have many memories of watching moose and elk meander out of the canyon, of a red-tail hawk attacking a mallard in mid-flight, and watching an injured cougar run into the canyon for safety. The point of the preserve, however, is not only to protect these animals, but it is to protect the entire ecosystem that they depend on. I didn’t know this as a child, but the limestone cliffs are rare in Washington and contribute a special type of habitat for plants and animals. The way that the limestone rock breaks down from rain and other processes creates a type of water and soil chemistry that only certain plants are adapted to. This, combined with other environmental factors, allows Trombetta Canyon to host rare plant species and other species important for conservation. The DNR’s decision to protect this unique ecosystem is necessary to conserve the canyon’s natural beauty and rare species.
The preserve will not only protect the environment, but it will also benefit SMOS. The Natural Area Preserve program sets aside land for conservation, research, and education. In the past, DNR has monitored over 350 studies and utilized NAPs to serve as outdoor classrooms for K-12 schools and colleges. The purposes of the NAP program are directly inline with the purposes of SMOS. Having a large preserve (the canyon itself is approximately 270 acres, the formation includes about 960 acres) adjacent to land already utilized for SMOS functions is a huge potential boon for our outdoor school.
The boundary for the Trombetta Canyon Preserve is not set in stone. DNR is still accepting public comments at this time. I urge all of you to attend their upcoming meeting (details below) and show your support.
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will hold a public hearing to provide information and receive testimony on the proposed boundary of Trombetta Canyon Natural Area Preserve (NAP). The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 22, 2011, in the lunch room at Northport Public Schools, 408 10th Street, Northport, WA.
Tags: dnr, natural area preserve, preserve, trombetta canyon
Hopefully no one noticed it, but we just finished our move from our previous web hosts to Dreamhost.com. Dreamhost is kind enough to give us free hosting so lets all gather around to give them a big group hug.
This site should look and feel exactly the same but if you notice any problems please post a comment or email me.
Gerhard Carlson will be leading a one-day workshop on building rolling snares and figure-four deadfall traps. Sign up for free at our Registration Page. The event is tomorrow, so don’t delay!
Recent Comments