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Lake Superior is the biggest freshwater lake in the world—if you’re considering surface area (32,000 square miles or 82,000 km²). That’s bigger than the Czech Republic. Lake Superior is the second largest freshwater lake in the world if you go by volume- Lake Baikal in Siberia is the biggest.

Posted by Dave at 4:57 AM | Permalink

Did you know that moose are the largest member of the deer family?
Male moose, known as bulls, can weigh as much as 1,400 pounds. That is equivalent to about 8 grown men! However, the species of moose found here in the Border Country are usually between 700 and 1,200 pounds. Females usually weigh between 700 and 1,100 pounds and males are between 900 and 1,200 pounds. Moose are unique, charismatic animals. They are easily identified by their large noses, humped shoulders, and great size. These animals also have a huge flap of skin and fur under their necks called a "bell." Male moose have a much larger bell than females. Another cool characteristic of moose are the large antlers found on males. Sometimes these antlers weigh as much as 75 pounds! The males spend a lot of their energy growing these impressive antlers. Each year the antlers are shed between mid-December and January and begin to grow again in early spring. Antlers grow quickly and a thin furry covering known as "velvet" begins to grow over them. In August, when the antlers are full grown, the velvet sloughs off within a few days.

Did you know that moose can run up to 35 miles per hour? They can also move quickly in water. Moose are very good swimmers and they can swim about 6 miles per hour. That is quite impressive for a creature with four long, skinny legs.

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Where do moose live?
Moose prefer cool climates and places with a lot of fresh water. They are found in some of the northern most states in the U.S. such as Wyoming, Montana, Maine, and Minnesota. We are fortunate here in the border country because moose are found all over this area. Moose prefer old mature forests filled with spruce, aspen, and willow thickets. In the summer it is quite common to see moose swim across lakes and ponds to find food. They spend much time munching on catkins and grasses that grow in the lakes. To make sure they obtain enough nourishment out of the grasses they eat the entire plant, including the roots. In the summer, moose usually live alone. Sometimes they will meet up at common feeding area and the males are known to group up and play with each other. One of their favorite games is called "sparring". This is when they push each other with their antlers. It is rare for moose to actually fight. The pregnant females are usually found alone. In the winter, moose will sometimes form herds to simplify travel through the snow to find feeding areas.

How do I look for signs of moose?
A good clue to see if moose have passed by is to look for their footprints or tracks. They have split hooves that are usually about 5 inches long. Another clue of moose activity is to look out for their droppings or scat. In the summer when they are eating lush green plants their scat looks like piles similar to cow droppings. In the winter their scat look like long round pellets. Moose also like to rest on the ground. If you find a clearing in the grass or snow that is about 4 feet wide then it is likely that you found a moose bed!

Moose Links

• Magnificent Moose Project.

Sources
Geist, V. 1999. Moose:Behavior, Ecology, Conservation. Voyageur Press, Stillwater, MN.
Stensaas, M. 1993. Canoe country wildlife: A field guide to the North Woods and Boundary Waters. Pfiefer-Hamilton, Duluth.
Whitaker, J.O. 1998. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mammals. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.

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Elementary Worksheets

After you have finished, choose your best answer. Then use the comments form below to post the question, and your answer to our website. Use your teachers email address and your first name. Remember to proofread your work before you submit it, and make sure you use complete sentences, proper grammar, and proper spelling.

It takes us about 24 hours to read what you have written, and approve it so that everyone can see your answer. If you have a question for us please do not post it here. Use the email the team section of our website, which is located in the Kids Zone.

Keep Exploring!

Dave
Expedition Leader

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Listen to our 9/18/2006 Podcast!

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On this trip around the largest freshwater lake in the world, it’s hard to imagine that many places in the world do not have enough fresh water. We realize it’s important to conserve water and keep this valuable resource clean even though we spend all day floating on freshwater as far as the eye can see. Dave and I estimated that we use about two gallons of water per day. How much water do you use in a day? What are some ways you could save water?

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Fall is here! The crisp morning air, and the leaves around us are changing color. As we’ve dipped down further south along the eastern shore of the lake, the hills have taken on a reddish tinge from all of the maples decked out in their autumn splendor. Dave found this maple leaf washed up on shore at our campsite near Agaway Bay.

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