Moose Baby out From Hiding and Growing Fast

All baby moose calves are born in the spring of the year. Mother Moose(Cows) become pregnant in the fall, usually late September or early October. Just a few days after birth, a moose calf is capable of outrunning a human. Moose calves gain weight at an incredible rate in the first year of life. A calf will usually gain more than 1 pound a day in the spring and later will grow even faster.. up to over 4 pounds a day! When moose are born they are completely helpless. A single born baby moose calf will weigh about 30 pounds. At this time, moose calves are completely vulnerable to predators, so Cows will keep their calves completely hidden for several days. While newborn moose are born with excellent hearing and sense of smell, unfortunately, moose calves have poor eyesight like adults. Like most ungulates, a Moose Mum/Cow will defend and protect her calf vigorously from danger, making them more dangerous to encounter at this time year.

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Moose Rut Season

The Active Moose Rut Season Time and Duration

The active peak of rutting season for moose is the first two weeks of October. Farther North in the hemisphere is earlier as South is a bit later.

Early in September, however, even though no mating occurs, moose cows behavior changes towards bulls that begins to allow courtship. Bull moose come down from altitudes into the valleys and cows will socialize with bulls for the purpose of reproduction. Moose may be witnessed in small groups at this stage. Fights among bulls at this time may be possible as they begin to compete for the right to court cows.

During this early rutting phase, bulls and cows can be heard vocalizing sounds that are not usually heard at other times of the year. Moose Bulls are normally quiet, but as the rutting season starts, bull moose will announce their presence with a low-frequency grunting or gulping sounds that many call a croak.

Beginning of the Moose Rut

In the first two weeks of October, bulls will court cows for mating purposes. The largest and heaviest of the Deer family may still be seen in groups during this time, with both Bulls and Cows potentially competing for mates. Moose Bulls will chase off or even fight rivals for mating rights, while cows that occupy the same area may also chase each other away from a favourite bull moose.

While cow moose are in estrous the bulls will stay in the area, mating several times to ensure successful breeding happens.

Moose Rut in Canada

Moose Rut Season Captured in Nature on Video..

View more Moose(Alces alces) rutting season videos with Wildlife On Video.

Moose Rut
We were lucky to witness this huge bull courting a receptive cow during the Moose Rut. The active peak of rutting season for moose is generally the first two weeks of October. Farther North in the hemisphere is earlier as South is a bit later. Moose bulls may court cows for several days during their mating season. The largest and heaviest of the Deer family can often be seen in groups during this time, with both Bulls and Cows potentially competing for mates. Moose Bulls will chase off or even fight rivals for mating rights, while cows that occupy the same area may also chase each other away from a favorite bull moose. You can hear some vocalizations between the bull and cow along with seeing some very rare behavior in these gentle giants.

More Moose Rut Encounters: 5