Friday, August 26, 2016

Moose in the Gros Ventre River in Grand Teton National Park


A portrait of a bull moose in the Gros Ventre River in Grand Teton National Park.  This guy was actually part of a foursome of bull moose who were feasting on willow leaves along the river's edge.  Moose are the largest member of the deer family and unlike most other species of deer, they tend to be solitary and don't form herds.

Like the males of the mule deer and the elk in the park, the male moose grow antlers every spring and shed them by winter.  This is what distinguishes them from horns, since horns are permanent structures.  The antlers of the moose are different from the other members of the deer family Cervidae since they have palmate antlers meaning there are broad flattened areas of antler between the pointy tines.

Other distinguishing features of the moose is the tuft of fur at the top of the throat that hangs down called a dewlap and a pendulous snout.

Remember it's not just a picture, it's a story.


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