August 2024 - 41

" Some suggest that the shape of the antlers act
to amplify their hearing, which gives older bulls
an advantage in hearing the vocalizations of cows
during the September, October rut, " Thomas said.
Despite their quirky looks, there are many fans
of these big, lumbering giants. Teal Cufaude, Game
and Fish biologist in Saratoga, joins Thomas as an
ardent cheerleader.
" They are such fascinating animals, " Cufaude
said. " Imagine seeing two 700-900-pound bulls
squaring off in a fight over nearby females. The
winner of that fight has a brief time to breed cows.
Females have a very short estrus period compared
to other species like elk or mule deer. Moose cow
estrus periods when they are receptive to being
bred are less than 24 hours. Other big game species
like elk can be several hours or days longer. Moose
are loners, and bulls must find a cow and try to
impress her, then wait until she comes into estrus.
" Elk estrus cycles are a couple of weeks long,
and if they are not successfully bred, they will have
recurrent cycles throughout the fall and early winter.
Moose can have a second estrus period, maybe
more, but they are rarely bred after the second
cycle. Successful moose reproduction requires more
males on the landscape to find females during their
short breeding cycle. "
Seeing a moose for the first time, it's understandable
one might think they are awkward. Don't be
fooled. Moose are agile and able to easily negotiate
dense willow bottoms where you're most likely to
find them. Those willows can easily engulf them
from view. During the rut, you might only hear
bulls raking willows with their antlers or making
vocalizations unlike anything you've ever heard.
Bulls mainlining testosterone during the rut will
cover incredible amounts of territory, sounding
off regularly with deep, guttural grunts hoping to
hear a cow respond with long moans. Some have
described both male and female vocalizations as
melodramatic crying to bring the typically solitary
animals together.
Sometimes referred to as Wyoming or Yellowstone
moose, in the lower 48 Shiras are found in
Montana, Colorado, Idaho, Utah, Washington and
Nevada. In Wyoming, they are found throughout
the western third of the state and Bighorn, Snowy
Range and Sierra Madre mountain ranges. As with
all wildlife species, habitat limits the population.
" Moose are large-bodied animals designed for
more arctic-like environments, which makes them
a heat-sensitive species, " Thomas said. " With that
heavy, dark-brown pelt, which appears black from
a distance, they seek cool, wet terrain. "
Unlike elk, moose don't sweat, so to thermoregulate,
they prefer riparian environments for
food and shelter.
Cow moose estrus periods when they are receptive to being bred are less than 24 hours. (Photo by Tim Christie)
Wyoming Wildlife | 41
Bull moose have antlers that regrow every year and are shaped unlike any other big game animal's antlers.
(Photo by Tim Christie)

August 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of August 2024