JACKSON, Wyo. — A mama moose and her offspring escaped the hot August sun by taking a dip in the Snake River on Tuesday, Aug. 5.
Buckrail photographer Nick Sulzer spied the pair wading in the water near the south entrance of Grand Teton National Park (GTNP).
Moose can overheat in the summer due to their thick, warm fur, and standing in cool water helps them to regulate their body temperature by dissipating heat through conduction.
According to the National Library of Medicine, moose, unlike humans, don’t rely on sweating to cool down. Moose possess a unique vascular network in their lower legs and antlers that aids in heat exchange and dissipation. The ungulates will increase their respiration rates to expel warmer air and exhale hotter breath, transferring heat away from their body. Moose also seek out shade, dense forest canopies and higher elevations with northern slopes during the hot months.
According to GTNP, moose will also step into lakes and rivers to avoid insects, forage for aquatic plants and to escape from predators.
