Between pesky flies and the abundant food sources in the summer, moose can be seen on the move in Maine’s woods.
The bulls stay in higher elevations where it’s cooler, but the cows — often with calves — can be found in the lower elevations of woods, especially near lakes and ponds where some of their favorite foods grow, according to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
The cows that have calves also choose areas where food is more densely concentrated so they spend less time eating and exposing their babies to predators, especially when their babies are very young, according to the department.
Although the cows keep watch even as the calves grow bigger, the babies are not quite as vulnerable as they were right after being born, giving their moms a little more freedom to browse food in a more leisurely manner.
Moose diets vary from leaves and twigs of woody plants to pond vegetation, which is a natural source of salt for them.
This video by BDN contributor Allie Ladd shows some cows and calves, just living their best summer lives, in Maine’s vast woodlands.
