eastern moose
{{Short description|Subspecies of deer}}
{{Subspeciesbox
| name = Eastern moose
| image = Moose in river animal alces americanus.jpg
| status = G5
| status_system = TNC
| status_ref = {{cite web|title=Alces alces americana|url=https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.792092/Alces_alces_americana|website=NatureServe Explorer|access-date=17 April 2024}}
| genus = Alces
| species = alces
| species_link = Moose
| subspecies = americana
| authority = (Clinton, 1822)
}}
The eastern moose (Alces alces americana) is a subspecies of moose that currently ranges throughout Eastern Canada, New England and northern New York State. It inhabits boreal forests and mixed deciduous forests. It is the third largest North American subspecies, after the western moose and the Alaskan moose. Males are aggressive during mating season and will attack anything that provokes them.
Distribution
The eastern moose's range spans a broad swath of northeastern North America, which includes New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador (while it is native to Labrador, it was introduced to Gander Bay, Newfoundland in 1878 and to Howley, NL in 1904),{{Cite web|url=http://www.flr.gov.nl.ca/wildlife/snp/programs/education/animal_facts/mammals/moose.html|title = Moose}} Nova Scotia, Quebec, Eastern Ontario, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and northern New York.
The moose that roam in Cape Breton Highlands National Park are descended from the western moose that originated from Alberta's Elk Island National Park.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ns/cbreton/decouvrir-discover/faune-animals/mammiferes-mammals/orignal-moose|title = Moose - Cape Breton Highlands National Park|date = 20 November 2018}}
The population and range of the eastern moose increased in the decades leading up to the early 2000s as reforestation increased habitat area, but in more recent years diseases and parasites, including winter tick and brainworm, have cut into the population.[http://northernwoodlands.org/articles/article/moose-decline Northern Woodlands: "Declining Moose Population" Spring 2015]{{cite news |last=Sreenivasan |first=Hari |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/researchers-track-new-hampshire-moose-hopes-pinpointing-cause-population-decline |title=Researchers track New Hampshire moose in hopes of pinpointing cause of population decline |work=PBS Newshour |publisher=NewsHour Productions LLC |date=2014-04-07 |access-date=2016-10-11 }}
There are about 350,000 eastern moose, with about {{frac|3|4}} of them mating every autumn and winter. {{citation needed|date=May 2016}}
Habitat
Eastern moose live in thick boreal or mixed deciduous forests near large amounts of food. In the summer, they move to have access to wetlands and aquatic vegetation, and prefer temperatures under {{convert|15|C|F}}.{{Cite web|url = http://mooseworld.com/habitat.html|title = Mooseworld: Moose Habitat|website = mooseworld.com|access-date = 2016-03-24}}{{Cite web|url = http://www.speciesatrisk.ca/SARGuide/download/Eastern%20Moose.pdf|title = Eastern Moose|last =|first =|date =|website =|publisher =|access-date =}}
Diet
The eastern moose's diet is similar to that of other moose species. It consumes up to {{convert|32|kg|lb|abbr=on}} a day of terrestrial vegetation, including forbs and shoots from trees such as willow and birch. It also forages for aquatic plants such as lilies and pondweed during the spring and summer.{{cite web|title=Moose Fact Sheet|url=http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?A=2723&Q=326044|work=Connecticut Environmental Protection|accessdate=12 December 2011}} Like other moose species, it lacks upper front teeth but has eight sharp incisors on its lower jaw.
Size and weight
Eastern moose are the third largest American subspecies of moose; they are smaller then the western moose and Alaska moose, but larger then the Shiras moose. Males stand on average {{convert|1.7|-|2.0|m|ft|abbr=on}} at the shoulder and weigh up to {{convert|634|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. Females stand on average {{convert|1.7|m|ft|abbr=on}} at the shoulder and weigh on average {{convert|270|–|360|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. Eastern moose antlers have an average span of about {{convert|1.5|m|ft|abbr=on}} across.
Social structure and reproduction
Eastern moose are solitary most of the year, only come into contact to mate or compete for breeding rights. Females without calves are mostly peaceful towards humans. Males use mating calls to attract females or challenge other bulls. At 10–11 months young are chased off by their mothers to fend for themselves.
Hunting
Eastern moose are hunted for food and sport during autumn and winter.{{cite web|url=http://biggamehuntingnewfoundland.ca/moose_huntingnewfoundland.asp |title=Newfoundland Moose Hunting |work=Newfoundland Hunting |accessdate=9 April 2016 |url-status=unfit |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090619212623/http://biggamehuntingnewfoundland.ca/moose_huntingnewfoundland.asp |archivedate=June 19, 2009 }}