In Hatchet, Brian encounters a female
moose (a cow) that runs over him down by the lake. During that time Brian
was getting water minding his own business then it ran him over for no reason.
Moose
usually roam in most of Canada and Alaska, and most northern forests and swamps.
Male
moose, (bulls) have a very unique characteristic. They have a bony treelike
growths that are called antlers on their heads. They have been known to reach
up to 8 feet long and weigh almost 85 lbs. Unlike deer, the male moose’s
antlers grow together instead of apart in multiple horns. Under the antlers,
they grow a layer of skin called the velvet. They grow it every spring and shed
the skin every winter.
Moose have another unique characteristic.
They have a built in “bell”. It is just a simple, sometimes large
flap of skin that grow below their neck.
Moose survive by eating berries off
of bushes and graze on any kind of green plant life throughout the year.
In
the summer, moose wade in ponds to stay cool. Moose usually stay there all day
for their enjoyment and for relaxation. In the winter, moose stay warm by growing
an immensely thick fur and don’t move around alot. At night when the temperatures
are way below freezing in their habitat, they lay down in big fluffy snow and
make a bedding. Moose have known to survive cold winter nights as cold as -70
below zero.
Moose usually reach up to 6-9' long and can weigh 700-1,400 lbs throughout their
lives.
Moose are the biggest member of the deer family. It has just a tint of darker
color to their fur than deer when they are full grown. When moose are born their
fur color is just tan color and when born they weigh about 700 lbs.
