Moose Trivia
**Moose antlers can grow up to an inch per day – they are the fastest growing tissue in any mammal. A full rack can weigh over 40 pounds!
**Moose calves need their mothers for a full year for protection and to learn to survive during each season.
**Moose shed their winter coats in the spring, making them look “homely” until the shedding is done. They also shed their light summer coats in the fall, growing much thicker and warmer winter hair.
**Moose have no front upper teeth — all the better to strip tender leaves off branches to eat.
**Moose have short tails, about 3 inches long, which means they cannot swat biting insects away with them. Instead, they hide from the insects by hanging out in ponds and lakes.
**Moose can dive up to 20 feet deep and hold their breath for 30 seconds or more.
**Moose can swim 6 miles/hour and run up to 35 miles/hour. Their large hooves act as paddles when swimming.
References
Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife: Big Game Plan (2017 – 2027)
U Maine: Student explores new ways to detect parasites in moose (2026)
U Vermont: Naturally Occurring Fungi Could Curb Moose Tick Plague (2019)
Northern Woodlands: Fungi May Kill Winter Ticks and Help Moose Survive
US Fish and Wildlife: Service Supports Winter Tick Research Using Fungi…(2023)
International Journal of Acarology: Enhancement of fur…with…fungi (2019)