Moose Calf

Moose calf ( Alces americanus)
 
All baby moose, commonly known as calves, are born in the spring. The cows ( mother moose) become pregnant in the fall, usually late September or early October. The word moose comes from the Algonquin Eastern Abenaki name "moz" which means "twig eater". When born, calves are dark brown or almost black in color, and are completely helpless. A single newborn calf can weigh up to 30 pounds and will gain up to 4 pounds a day. The cows can give birth to twins which will weigh up to 14 pounds each. To protect the calves, the mother will keep them hidden for several days, patrolling the area around the calves with a fierce and often deadly charge against any and all unwanted visitors. Including any other moose. All moose are born with excellent hearing and sense of smell, but have poor eyesight. This holds true for all adult moose. Most moose babies will not survive their first winter. Unfortunately, cold temperatures and lack of food takes the majority of young calves before they can mature to adulthood. If they do survive the first winter, chances are in their favor to live anywhere from 15-25 years. This photo was taken in Rocky Mountain national park.
 
Camera settings: Nikon D7100 Lens: Sigma 18-250 1:3.5-6.3 HSM Exposure time: 1/200 sec. Aperture: f/5.6 Focal length: 310.0mm ISO: 1000