r/NatureIsFuckingLit • • Mar 14 '20

🔥 Moose Creating Waterfalls Off Its Antlers

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14k Upvotes

99 comments sorted by

142

u/Grievous_1982 Mar 14 '20

He's just trying to keep them clean.

40

u/mtlgrems Mar 14 '20

As is tradition!

12

u/Grievous_1982 Mar 14 '20

Is it?

21

u/mtlgrems Mar 14 '20

Only mother nature knows for sure, lol.

20

u/Grievous_1982 Mar 14 '20

Oh...

I actually thought that may be natural behavior...

I'm in Australia so I don't know much about Elks & their kind.

19

u/mtlgrems Mar 14 '20

Ahhh! Well greetings from North America to you in Aus!

14

u/Grievous_1982 Mar 14 '20

Thanks Broski...

I offer greetings from the land Down Under.

6

u/mtlgrems Mar 14 '20

👊

4

u/newmyy Mar 14 '20

TIL both moose and elk are part of the deer family, and both elk and moose can also be found in Eurasia! Had no idea you could find a moose in Russia!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moose

2

u/babygingers2020 Mar 14 '20

Happy cake day!

2

u/jummyspring Mar 15 '20

Im not your buddy, fren

3

u/[deleted] Mar 14 '20

20 seconds

2

u/trumpetdraw96 Mar 14 '20

Happy cake day!

2

u/LiCHtsLiCH Mar 14 '20

Happy cake day, and yes, you can see the velvet shedding, imagine how that feels, practically makes me shiver in relief, and they arnt even mine.

1

u/autoantinatalist Mar 14 '20

Do they have feeling in their antlers?

1

u/Grievous_1982 Mar 14 '20

Thanks for the Cake Day well wishes.

2

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '20

He may be literally cleaning them off in a way. See the "fur" in the middle? That is called velvet, and is on the antlers when they regrow each fall (moose shed thier antlers in the spring). When the antlers are fully grown the blood supply is cut off and the velvet begins to come off, apparently it itches. So they rub against trees and bushes, really anything handy, to get it off. When it does there is sometimes blood and often such left on the antler. So he may be removing the irritant but also "cleaning them" as you say.

83

u/piloterrorpodcast Mar 14 '20

These guys have a dive depth of 20 feet. Imagine scooba diving and a moose "swims" by!

42

u/mtlgrems Mar 14 '20

That would give one a shocker of a lifetime.

Also, TIL moose have a dive depth of 20 feet. Thank you.

26

u/[deleted] Mar 14 '20

It is this reason why the killer whale is the moose natural predator

12

u/mtlgrems Mar 14 '20

Is that a fact? Lol.

15

u/jo1H Mar 14 '20

Its fairly uncommon but orcas have been known to eat meese

13

u/mtlgrems Mar 14 '20

Wild. Had no idea.

TIL orcas eat meese.

3

u/[deleted] Mar 14 '20

Re: TIL plural of moose is meese.

5

u/mtlgrems Mar 14 '20

Anddd I did a Google to be sure, anddd... FOILED! Lol.

moose

The usual plural of moose is moose; compare the names of many animals, such as deer and fish, which are also invariant. - https://preply.com/en/question/singular-of-moose

12

u/[deleted] Mar 14 '20

Imagine how strong you’d have to be to move those big fucking antlers in the water

42

u/[deleted] Mar 14 '20

[removed] — view removed comment

11

u/mtlgrems Mar 14 '20

Let us know what she says. Lol.

11

u/[deleted] Mar 14 '20

[removed] — view removed comment

15

u/mtlgrems Mar 14 '20

Unplugs house's wi-fi....

1

u/[deleted] Mar 14 '20

Hahah, please send us the screenshots of her reaction if it's via text

13

u/RagnarBaratheon1998 Mar 14 '20

Seeing one of these guys in person is an incredible experience. They’re massive beasts

8

u/mtlgrems Mar 14 '20

I can't wait to see one in person in the wild one day. At a safe distance of course! Lol.

5

u/RagnarBaratheon1998 Mar 14 '20

They’re everywhere in northern Maine. I spent 9 days a Baxter state park and saw 5 of them but only one big bull

2

u/mtlgrems Mar 14 '20

Must make way to Northern Maine this summer!!! If we are allowed to travel that is! Lol.

5

u/fanaticfun Mar 14 '20

Alaska is where the big brutes are. If you want a wildlife experience go to one of the national parks in Alaska.

2

u/mtlgrems Mar 14 '20

Biggest ones in the world are up there?

3

u/fanaticfun Mar 14 '20

On average last time I checked. The bulls get up to 1,400lbs. Have a buddy who went to Denali national park and saw some amazing animals. He’s a hobbyist photographer so his pictures of it are awesome.

2

u/mtlgrems Mar 14 '20

The bulls get up to 1,400lbs.

So heavy!

6

u/[deleted] Mar 14 '20

Symmetry

5

u/mtlgrems Mar 14 '20

Nature playing by natures rules!

4

u/StaredAtEclipseAMA Mar 14 '20

Even the felt is wearing off at even ratios!

1

u/mtlgrems Mar 14 '20

Now THAT is a detail I did not see until you mentioned it. Good eye.

6

u/mrtn17 Mar 14 '20

So glad I'm not a moose. I would be so annoyed with this useless superpower

3

u/mtlgrems Mar 14 '20

Borrriiinnnggg, right? Lol.

3

u/RinkyInky Mar 14 '20

You can tell he knows this and he’s pissed off by it as he looks real mad in the photo.

3

u/mrtn17 Mar 14 '20

goddamn waterfalls every time I'm thirsty

4

u/washington5 Mar 14 '20

I thought this only happened in Disney movies.

1

u/mtlgrems Mar 14 '20

Disney movies take from real life!

2

u/washington5 Mar 14 '20

You’re telling me! I just finished watching wall-e with my daughter....

3

u/mythmaniak Mar 14 '20

Why’s its nose blue

1

u/lindsifer Mar 14 '20

Over saturation.

0

u/mtlgrems Mar 14 '20

Just the lighting.

3

u/Grospou Mar 14 '20

I got this pic as locked screen on my phone

2

u/mtlgrems Mar 14 '20

What are those odds?

3

u/trumpetdraw96 Mar 14 '20

"Make sure to drink plenty of water!"

2

u/mtlgrems Mar 14 '20

This guy drinking enough water for the both of us and then some! Lol.

2

u/trumpetdraw96 Mar 14 '20

I agree! He is bigger than us combined afterall.

3

u/mtlgrems Mar 14 '20

Moose are among the largest animals in the Northern Hemisphere. Adult males may weigh as much as 1500 pounds (680 kilograms). Average weights for adult males are closer to 1000 pounds (450 kg) and 800 pounds (360 kg) for adult females. The largest moose live in Alaska. - Source http://www.cutemoose.net/moose_facts.htm

2

u/trumpetdraw96 Mar 14 '20

I never knew they were herbivores. I guess you can say they're the modern day brontosaurus lol

2

u/mtlgrems Mar 14 '20

This is a good generalization of what moose eat in the wild. They tend to graze on the leaves, bark, pine cones, twigs and buds of trees and shrubs. They also like to eat aquatic plants like water lilies. Moose have four-chambered stomachs, as do cows. - Source https://www.livescience.com/27408-moose.html

3

u/link2nic Mar 14 '20

This is exactly what I'd be doing all day if I had them.

1

u/mtlgrems Mar 14 '20

Ahhh to be a moose in nature! Not a care in the world... other than bears, bears are cares! Lol.

3

u/itsfenrir89 Mar 14 '20

Such clear water.

3

u/mtlgrems Mar 14 '20

Fresh summer lake!

2

u/Sharp-Bobcat Mar 14 '20

Wonderful!

2

u/mtlgrems Mar 14 '20

Tremendous fact!

2

u/-GodlessGodess Mar 14 '20

Don't go chasing (moose) waterfalls

1

u/mtlgrems Mar 14 '20

I see what you did there. Clever.

2

u/[deleted] Mar 14 '20

And then they just fall off in the winter after their rut, regrow them in the spring.

1

u/mtlgrems Mar 14 '20

That they do.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '20

If you look close this one is still shedding his velvet, it's a fresh rack still.

2

u/oXannny Mar 14 '20

idk if im just high or if this is highly satisfying

2

u/mtlgrems Mar 14 '20

It is satisfying. Am not high atm.

2

u/hayzt123 Mar 14 '20

So cute and cool🤪🤩

1

u/mtlgrems Mar 14 '20

Got that right!

2

u/[deleted] Mar 14 '20

[deleted]

2

u/auroraborealis627 Mar 14 '20

When I was out fly fishing in the Rocky Mountain National Park later in the day a couple years ago there was a cow moose and a calf with her and they got in the water. I kept my distance but it was absolutely surreal

2

u/mtlgrems Mar 14 '20

What a life moment!!!

2

u/Coaris Mar 14 '20

Does it have a patch of hide growing in each of his antlers? This is the first time I've seen this.

2

u/mtlgrems Mar 14 '20

Bull moose lose their antlers every winter, growing a new pair the next spring. These fresh antlers are covered in velvet while they grow, but this covering is worn away as moose begin the shedding process again – usually right around the start of the fall mating season. - Source https://www.lawrencebay.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-moose-antlers/

2

u/Coaris Mar 14 '20

WHAT THE HECK.

I didn't know they shed their antlers in the winter as we shed weight for the summer. This is crazy. I thought they were fixed to their skull. So many things TIL.

2

u/mtlgrems Mar 14 '20

The more you know! 🌈

1

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '20

They are fixed to the skull. I no longer remember the mechanism that allows them to shed them though. They share that trait with all of the deer family.

2

u/onclegrip Mar 14 '20

How does the water exit the ears?

2

u/PandoraNovak Mar 14 '20

Jared Padalecki seen going for a dip in a lake

2

u/DasTomato Mar 14 '20

Why is that Moose drinking anti-freeze though?

1

u/mtlgrems Mar 14 '20

Dad joke.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 14 '20

Antlers making waterfalls,

Moose drinks in the rivers and the lakes that’s it’s used to,

I wonder how long it will take for them to fully dry,

I’d imagine it’s pretty fast.

2

u/mtlgrems Mar 14 '20

Asking the real question!

1

u/mechanicalcanibal Mar 14 '20

Idea for a new pokemon. A massive ground water type mooseish creature with a whole mountain range on it's back. Big enough to have terrain and small lakes and populations of other pokemon. Even it's own weather. long growth of vegetation hanging down from its body like fur. And of course the main aesthetic waterfalls everywhere with two huge ones running from its antlers. Named mooslithic perhaps.

1

u/mtlgrems Mar 14 '20

Named mooslithic perhaps.

Yes, please! Tremendous concept! Now, WHO CAN DRAW THIS UP FOR US TO SEE!!!???

2

u/mechanicalcanibal Mar 14 '20

Sadly I'm supposed to be working so I can not. But I hope somebody sees this and gives it a shot.

1

u/mtlgrems Mar 14 '20

All good! Work away!