Moose
Though the Bison and its cousins are the largest and arguably most dominate herbivore family in many regions of Valerick, and certainly, without any question in its most temperate plains and tundras, the forests and boreals belong to an equally large beast. One more inclined to a solitary nature, and one perhaps tougher and most definitely more aggressive and territorial. Moose look strange in many ways, from their large bulk set on surprisingly tall legs, their odd jaw and mouth and skull shape. They look almost ungainly, awkward, unbalanced even to some. Yet they are highly successful and adaptive animals. Moose, like bison, seem fearless of obstructions when they decide to stand and fight, their bulk part of how they would defend themselves. A charging moose may not shake the very ground as a herd of bison, but I would assure you all one for one they are equally as dangerous to be in the path of. Do not let their odd shape, proportions, and silly looking cute face shape fool you. They are best admired from a safe distance."
Another nugget of Mochi wisdom.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Moose are another large and powerful herbivore that one will find admist the forests, hills, marshes and valleys of the more temperate climates all across the continent of Durol, as well as in small and select regions of Gavis-Lune. They are distantly related to the deer family, though are their own unique creature, having diverged long ago. They are mighty, bulky and powerful creatures, though pure herbivores, and are generalists within their diet, able to feed off a wide variety of plant life both terrestrial and aquatic. Their long legs, relative to their bulk, aide in this process, giving them a longer range of wading than any other herbivore that would attempt to feed on some of the most nutrient dense vegetation available that grows all about the shallows of rivers and lakes within these temperate regions.
Biological Traits
Moose have a wide range of size to them, and males typically tend to be bigger overall than females, as well as growing antlers, which females do not. Adult Moose can vary anywhere from 1.4 to 2.1 meters in height at the shoulder, or 4'7" to 6'11". From tip of snout to tail they vary from 2.5 to 3.3 meters in length, or 8' to 10'5". Females, known as sows, are generally less bulky, and do not grow antlers, ranging from 200 to 490 kgs, or 440 to 1080 pounds. Males, known as bulls, are much bulkier and are the ones whom grow antlers. The antlers can span 1.2 to 1.5 meters, or 3'11" to 4'11" across, an intimidating sight to behold. Bulls weigh generally between 380 to 700 kgs, or 840 to 1540 pounds.
Moose Skeletal Examination, Frontal perspective by Keon Croucher Using Midjourney
Genetics and Reproduction
Moose breed in early autumn, and typically only birth one calf, though twins are possible when food is plentiful enough. Pregnancy lasts eight months and generally a sow will give birth to one calf, though twins are possible in appropriately mild and food is plentiful. Calves and sows have a truly poweful social bond for just about the first year of a calf's life. This will not stop a sow from mating however, and often times a mother moose will be chasing off her yearling, sending them into the wider world as a near mature adult mere weeks before giving birth again.
Growth Rate & Stages
A moose calf can walk and even run within mere moments of being born, a necessary adaptation for solitary herbivores. They are reliant on their mother for sustenance for the first two to three months however. After that weaning period, they begin to learn to graze, learning what foods are safe, plentiful, following their mother's lead. They grow quite quickly, and by just about a year, perhaps eleven or twelve months after birth, they are physically approaching an adult size in height, and still bulking up quite rapidly. It is at this point they will break apart from their mother, finding their own way in the world. The sub-adult will grow a little taller and much bulkier in the next year, as it reaches sexual maturity. A fully grown adult moose can live anywhere from fifteen to twenty years before risking a death from old age.
Ecology and Habitats
Moose prefer thick temperate forests, hill-lands, river valleys and wetlands for the wide variety of nutritient dense plant options as well as the thick vegetation providing plentiful aide in staying hidden and difficult to track. One would think something so bulky would be hard pressed to move subtlely and stealthily, yet in such environments, moose are exactly that if they so wish it.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Much like bison and their cousins, moose are generalist herbivores, grazing and browsing all manner of plant life in their habitats, having a seemingly instintual guide to the highest energy density options. Their unique body size and shape also garners them a great advantage, that of height, allowing them to not only graze and browse low and moderate height vegetation, which many species feed off of, but even allowing them to reach things much higher up than smaller elk, caribou or deer species that they share their habitats with can reach. This can even include such nutrient dense options as low handing fruit such as wild apples or pears or other such options.
Behaviour
Moose are solitary animals, and are known to be territorial, stubborn, and very assertive, however will generally seek to flee rather than fight if they feel threatened in some way, such as by people or predators. This becomes far less true during the late summer and early autumn mating season, particularly so for males. If they feel cornered or feel as though they cannot outrun a threat, a moose has no fear or qualm with utilizing their considerable bulk, and if male, their antlers. A bull moose lowering its head and snorting with what seems like irritation is about the only warning a person or predator will get before the beast decides to charge. They are deceptively fast, even if their run looks as ungainly, if not more so, than their walk.
Additional Information
Domestication
Full on domestication has never been truly or fully explored, as moose are naturally opposed to a herd like structure, and do not take well at all to any attempts to force such behaviors. However they are reared and trained as mounts by small and select groups within Depenwood and Raechin, though this is a small exception and not the rule.
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Moose meat is a hearty and nutrient dense option favored in northern climates for its high nutritional yield and fat content. Moose fat and hide are also heavily favored as sealant and for making water resistant and warm winter clothing. That said, hunting moose is a task that is best described as grueling and dangerous, and is not for the faint of heart or the inexperienced.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Like many herbivores, moose have developed a highly specialized and keen sense of smell, and this highlights their snout shape. They can detect water sources or food even under several feet of dense snow pack, and can scent potential predators from a great distance. Unlike other similar animals, which often have a weaker sense almost as if a cost benefit balance, moose do not seem to suffer from poor eyesight or hearing, seeming to have impressive sensory functionality in these senses as well, though for a solitary herbivore, this should hardly be surprising.
Scientific Name
Cervida Grazius Herculian
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Moose coats are generally a deep brown, favoring earthy tones, though they can have red, black or grey tinting to the coloration.
Geographic Distribution
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