This sighting, submitted to Latest Sightings, captures a rare moment: a moose swimming in a pond
A Quick Drive By
Moose are usually spotted in mountain forests, dense woodlands, or grassy clearings. These solitary large animals are known to be calm but aggressive when threatened.
In this sighting, the moose surfaces for deep breaths before submerging again to feed
Can this moose even touch the ground of the pond?
An Unusual Diet
Male moose can weigh up to 700 kilograms. This one appears to be a female, which typically reaches up to 360 kilograms
That said, these animals are required to eat a lot. Moose are herbivores with enormous appetites. They have to eat to prepare for the harsh winter.
During the winter, they are left eating with the bark and twigs, which is very unpleasant to eat, even for us humans. That’s why in the summer, they are going to eat a lot of aquatic vegetation like seen in this video.
Favorites include water lilies, pondweed, horsetail, and duckweed. These plants are rich in sodium and help provide essential minerals not found in land-based vegetation.
So Can They Swim?
Moose are highly capable swimmers, they start even swimming as calves. This ability allows them to travel into places in search of food, including ponds, like this video.
They can swim long distances, sometimes over 10 kilometers, without taking a break.
And to answer the question earlier, the moose did not likely touch the ground while in the pond; they are capable of swimming down below for up to 6 metres. They are able to close their nostrils to dive and feed underwater.
They do this just to reach the roots of these aquatic vegetation that are highly nutritious compared to those on land.
With speeds up to 6mph, they can easily wade and swim around the natural wetlands of Canada and Alaska.
Is Swimming With Moose A Good Idea?
Moose are solitary animals; They are highly territorial and value their space. Yet, they are usually evasive and avoid human contact if possible, but when it gets too close, they may charge, kick, or even bite if provoked.
In North America, there are 5 to 10 moose attacks being reported yearly, but that should not be taken as an invitation to swim near them.
Bulls during the rutting season are very aggressive; they can stand up to 2 metres tall, and their antlers can span up to 2 metres. With their size, strength, and antlers, it’s best to admire them from a distance.
Survival Of The Fittest
Moose are found across North America, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, Russia, and parts of China, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia
Their ability to swim is proof of their capacity to survive in diverse habitats, including wetlands, hills, tundras, shrublands, and forests.
This female moose is simply doing what she must, stocking up in summer to endure the winter