JACKSON, Wyo. — Moose activity in and around Jackson is ramping up ahead of autumn, and Buckrail photographer Nick Sulzer has captured some winning shots of the beloved quadruped.
Like other large mammals in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, moose are about to enter their rut season. Moose are solitary creatures for most of the year, except during the mating season, which runs from late September into early October.
Bulls weigh close to 1,000 pounds while cows weigh up to 900 pounds. The principal staples of the moose diet are the leaves and twigs of the willow, followed by other woody browse species such as gooseberry and buffaloberry. An adult moose consumes as much as 50 pounds of food per day in the summer.
Usually around early August, hormonal changes signal the end of the antler growth period, and bulls begin scraping the velvet off, polishing and sharpening the antlers in the process.
If you’ve snapped a great photo of a moose in the area, we’d love to feature it in an upcoming Buckrail SNAPPED. Send images to tips@buckrail.com.
