Do Moose Hibernate or Migrate?
Moose do not hibernate or migrate. They are a species that is well adapted to the seasonal changes that occur in their natural habitat. While calves and young moose can tolerate temperatures down to 20 degrees below zero, adults can withstand even colder temperatures.
Jump Ahead
- How Moose Adapt to Winter Climates
- Moose Are Better Adapted to Cold than to Heat
- What Do Moose Eat in the Winter?
- Resources
- Glossary of Terms
How Moose Adapt to Winter Climates
Moose live all across the northern hemisphere. Their natural range in Europe and Asia runs from Scandinavia to China. They can be found in North America across the northern United States, Canada, and up into Alaska. They are perfectly adapted to life in these winter climates.
A moose has one of the thickest hides and most insulating hair coats of any land mammal. While they do completely shed their winter coat every spring, they immediately begin to grow a new hair coat.
Their large bodies reduce heat loss due to a low surface area ratio. In addition, their long legs allow adult moose to handle snow depths up to 36 inches. However, during times of deep snow, moose will generally look for a sheltered area with access to food for browsing.
Moose Are Better Adapted to Cold than to Heat
The sheltered areas moose instinctively seek, serve a dual purpose. In addition to protecting against deep snow, the shelter also protects moose from excess heat. With a dense, soft undercoat and an insulating, air-filled outer coat, moose can easily withstand temperatures well below zero.
While calves and young moose can tolerate temperatures down to 20 degrees below zero, adults can withstand even colder temperatures. However, when winter temperatures climb into the mid-twenties, moose will often begin to pant from the heat. In fact, some moose will lie down in the snow to try to cool off.
During the summer, temperatures as low as 57 degrees will cause moose to feel stress from the heat. Unfortunately, to combat this heat stress, moose will often forage less. When that happens, they don’t build up enough stored fat reserves to survive winter’s cold.
What Do Moose Eat in the Winter?
Moose are herbivores eating only plants. They eat 35-60 pounds of food daily, giving them a nice layer of fat for the sparse winter months. They prefer the leaves and twigs of new growth on woody plants known as “browse.” Favorites include willow, birch, and aspen. They are often seen in the water foraging for aquatic plants.
When the leaves have fallen from the trees in the winter, moose will eat the larger twigs from hardwoods. They conserve energy with a winter eating cycle by eating briefly and then resting.
Resources
- New Hampshire Fish & Game Department – Wildlife Report for New Hampshire Fish & Game – “Moose Wishing for Winter.”
- Woodford, Riley – Alaska Department of Fish and Game – Alaska Fish & Wildlife News – “A Day in the Life of a Moose.”
- Mooseworld.com – Answers to Questions about Moose – “Where Do Moose Go for the Winter?”
- Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife – Species Spotlight – “Moose – Alces alces americana.”
- Suny College of Environmental Science and Forestry – “Moose.”
Glossary of Terms
Hibernate – When animals spend the winter in a dormant state.
Migrate – When animals move from one region to another according to the seasons.
Browse – Vegetation including twigs and young shoots eaten by animals.
