Editing Moose (section)

===Social structure and reproduction===
[[File:Riddle of the racks.jpg|thumb|Display at the [[Kenai National Wildlife Refuge]] of the skulls of two bulls who apparently died after their antlers became locked during a fight.]]
Moose are mostly [[Diurnality|diurnal]]. They are generally solitary with the strongest bonds between mother and calf. Although moose rarely gather in groups, there may be several in close proximity during the mating season.

Rutting and mating occurs in September and October. During the [[Rut (mammalian reproduction)|rut]], mature bulls will cease feeding completely for a period of approximately two weeks; this fasting behavior has been attributed to neurophysiological changes related to redeployment of olfaction for detection of moose urine and moose cows.<ref>Miquelle, Dale G. "Why don't bull moose eat during the rut?." [[Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology]] 27, no. 2 (1990): 145-151.</ref> The males are [[lek mating|polygynous and will seek several females to breed with]]. During this time both sexes will call to each other. Males produce heavy grunting sounds that can be heard from up to {{convert|500|m}} away, while females produce wail-like sounds.<ref>{{cite web|author=DW Hartt, Data|first2=Web |last2=Coordinator |url=http://www.nwtwildlife.com/NWTwildlife/moose/reproduction.htm |title=Moose Reproduction |access-date=February 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080424001305/http://www.nwtwildlife.com/NWTwildlife/moose/reproduction.htm |archive-date=April 24, 2008}}</ref> Males will fight for access to females. Initially, the males assess which of them is dominant and one bull may retreat, however, the interaction can escalate to a fight using their antlers.

Female moose have an eight-month gestation period, usually bearing one calf, or twins if food is plentiful,<ref>{{Cite book|publisher = [[Smithsonian Institution Press]]|isbn = 978-1-56098-845-8|last = Ruff|first = Sue|title = The Smithsonian Book of North American Mammals|location = Washington|year = 1999|url-access = registration|url = https://archive.org/details/smithsonianbooko0000unse}}</ref> in May or June.<ref>{{cite web|title = Moose|website=[[Minnesota DNR]]|access-date = November 11, 2009|url = http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/mammals/moose/index.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091207233626/http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/mammals/moose/index.html|archive-date = December 7, 2009}}</ref> Twinning can run as high as 30% to 40% with good nutrition<ref name="A.T. Bergerud">{{cite web|first1=Vince|last1=Crichton|author2=A. T. Bergerud|first3=Erin|last3=James-Abra|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/moose|title=Moose|publisher=[[The Canadian Encyclopedia]]|access-date=September 1, 2019}}</ref> Newborn moose have fur with a reddish hue in contrast to the brown appearance of an adult. The young will stay with the mother until just before the next young are born. The lifespan of an average moose is about 15–25 years. Moose populations are stable at 25 calves for every 100 cows at 1 year of age. With availability of adequate nutrition, mild weather, and low predation, moose have a huge potential for population expansion.<ref name="A.T. Bergerud"/>

<gallery heights="120px" mode="packed">
File:Moose calves nursing.jpg|(newborn)<br/>Calves nursing in spring.
File:Cowcalflyingdown.JPG|(3 months)<br/>Calves stay near their mothers at all times.
File:Ninemomoose.JPG|(9 months)<br/>This calf is almost ready to leave its mother.
File:Mainstmoose.JPG|(10–11 months)<br/>This yearling was probably recently chased away by its pregnant mother.
</gallery>