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Moose!
The Wild Life

Right beside the Boardwalk at Market Square in Saint John is a life-size bronze statue of a moose. It was created by Forest Hart for Moosehead Breweries, the original New Brunswick beer brewery. This statue is eye-catching and many people like to have their photographs taken beside it. The moose is a natural icon for this province, because In New Brunswick, this member of the deer family is very plentiful and can often be seen by or on the highways.

A picture does not portray the size of these animals. A bull moose in full spread of antlers is the most imposing beast in North America. One of them can weigh 450 kilograms (1000 pounds) and stand two metres (6 1/2 feet) tall. The antlers on a mature male often extend between 120 and 150 cm. but they can be more than 180 cm. between the widest tips. These antlers have heavy main beams that broaden into large palms that are fringed with a series of small spikes. Female moose do not have the large rack of antlers which are so prominent on the males and mature males usually shed their antlers in November.

Moose have tremendous physical power and vitality and can travel over almost any terrain. Their long legs carry them easily over dead fall trees or through snow that would stop most other animals. They do not hibernate during the winter but are active all year round. In fact, they tolerate cold better than heat. Moose can dive and swim and are quite at home in the water. In the summer especially during fly season, moose often cool off in water for several hours each day.

Calves are born in the spring and are totally helpless. Animals such as bears or wolves prey on them. The mother keeps them in seclusion for a couple of days hidden from their many enemies in a thicket or on an island. A moose calf is able to follow its mother on a long swim even while very young, occasionally resting its muzzle on the cow’s back for support.

A driver can expect to encounter moose while traveling on any road in New Brunswick at any time. Moose like to feed on the vegetation along the edge of the roads and the open spaces are windswept and give them some relief from flies. Many roadways run through areas of prime feeding grounds so moose have to cross these roadways in order to access their habitat. Sections of roadways with the most risk are usually marked with moose warning signs. To avoid a collision, slow down when driving especially at night. Moose are hard to see at night because their coats are dark brown and their eyes do not reflect light like those of a deer.

The best way to avoid an accident is to pay attention to warning signs, scan both sides of the road and try to spot the moose well in advance. If there is a passenger in the car have them watching as well. Moose are highly unpredictable and just because one is standing calmly at the side of the road, slow down because it could decide to go across the road at the last moment.

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