Is society to detached from nature?
Wildlife Series : Moose
From as early as I can recall I always felt at one with nature. My brother and I used to trench thru swamps, mud, creeks and forests.
I was living in a small community on the eastern outskirts of Algonquin Park. It's here my perception of nature was molded.
Nature is delicate and should be respected, nurtured and protected.
Preserving wildlife for the next generations to come should remain a priority by us all.
Algonquin is a huge expanse of wilderness. Covering 7,725 square kilometers or 4,800 square miles of rugged Canadian Shield country.
If the park was mapped out by following it's natural tree lines and river ways, it could just about double in size.
The Muskoka's have every kind of outdoor experience that one can imagine but also is a heaven for the many animal, insects and fish species.
My family and I moved there when I was in my early teenage years.
We went from living in an average rural town on the ouskirts of the Canadian Capital, Ottawa for a decade prior to moving there.
I left home when I was 15/16 years old to move back to the City of Ottawa but, went back for some time as a young man.
This is when I really noticed natures beauty and magestic wilderness.
The people are kind and warm to their neighbours, everyone is willing to help one another when needed with things like gathering the winters firewood.
Every year the town put on a long weekend Regatta. The whole main street is closed down. Theres live bands, arm wresting, cardboard boat races, canoe races, tug of war over mud pits, lots of water games and ending the weekend with a fireworks show.
It's a special place.
The park is a protected wildlife sanctuary but thrives from tourists and nature enthusiast who have access to parts of the park.
You can canoe, kayak, fish, camp, hike, visit sacred and protected Indigenious sites. There are no gas powered boats, atv or dirt bikes allowed past the gates into the park
When I went back after living for many years in the City
I was old enough to drive and explores the will via ATV, boat, snowmobile and truck.
On a few occasions I drove miles back into the wild at dawn.
One of these occasions I was overlooking a swamp from an old logging road. I was perced 20 meters above when a family of moose broke thru the tree line. 3 moose in total. An enormous male Buck, Female and a Fawn.
I'm in no way an expert on Nature, animal species and conservation but this Nature series will look at those different aspects.
This series is simply driven from my respect for our planet.
Here is a photo for size comparison. When you see a moose in real life and see just how large and intimidating they stand, you will instantly draw respect for the animal.
Ones own heart races and is truely a sight to behold.
This is the episode that is forged in my mind,
stitched in my heart and what connected my spirit to the divinety of our planet.
Unfortunately, the Moose are over hunted and their territories over developed in some areas.
My viewpoints are geared towards the conservation side of outdoors rather than the destruction side such as hunting, over development and over fishing around the world.
Moose are the largest members of the deer family, standing six feet (1.8 meters) tall from hoof to shoulder, and weighing in at more than 1,000 pounds (450 kilograms). Each of their light to dark brown hairs is hollow, and the air trapped inside provides insulation. A flap of skin called a dewlap hangs from the throat. Males are distinguished from females by their antlers, which grow up to six feet across.
Moose are found in the northern regions of the United States, from Maine to Washington, throughout Canada, and into Alaska. Due to their large size and insulating fur, moose are limited to cold climates. Forested areas with streams and ponds are ideal moose habitat.
Moose are herbivores. The word “moose” is an Algonquin Indigenous term meaning “eater of twigs.” Moose are so tall that they have difficulty bending down to eat grasses, so they prefer to feed on leaves, bark, and twigs from trees and shrubs. Their favorite foods come from native willow, aspen, and balsam fir trees. They also munch on aquatic plants from streams and ponds.
Male moose, called bulls, begin to grow antlers in springtime to prepare for the autumn mating season. Large, mature bulls with well-developed antlers usually get to mate with the female moose, called cows. When bulls are competing for the same cow, they may use their antlers to fight off their opponents. After the mating season, bulls drop their antlers. They regrow them again in the spring
They are solitary animals, except when it comes to mating. During mating season, some dominant male moose in Alaska will herd a group of females together to create a “harem herd.” Other males will fight the leader of the herd for the right to mate with the females.
Newborn calves can stand up the first day, and swim within a couple of weeks. They are weaned at about six months, but remain with their mother for one year until she drives them off shortly before her next calf is born. Each spring and summer, bull moose grow antlers that fall off during winter.
A few facts about Moose
1. Male moose grow a set of antlers each year during the spring and summer. By fall, antlers can span six feet from tip to tip.
2. Though females lack antlers, they aggressively protect their babies with powerful kicks that can break bones or even kill predators.
3. Moose are browsers, feeding on the leaves and twigs of trees and shrubs, primarily willow, birch, and poplar.
4. Moose are excellent swimmers, able to hold their breath underwater for 30 seconds.
5. Despite their large size, moose can run at over 35 miles per hour.
