Moose Are One Of The Last Species You’d Expect To Be Swimming For Their Supper | Wild Canadian Year

The moose is the largest member of the deer family, weighing up to 700 kilograms. It has an appetite to match. Each moose needs to eat about 20 kilograms of plants a day, which becomes harder to do as the growing season ends. But in early fall, beneath the surface of small lakes and ponds, moose in the Rocky Mountains can still find an important seasonal food. Aquatic plants have more nutrients and minerals than land plants, so a hungry moose can get more and better food than it can on land. The edge of the lake, where it's easiest to feed, gets well picked over, so the female heads to deeper water. The moose's impressive anatomy allows it to take advantage of this soggy plant food. Large nostrils act as valves to keep water out as the moose dives deep. Moose can hold their breath for up to a minute and have been known to dive up to six meters. Moose are the only member of the deer family that forage on underwater plants. They have learned to take full advantage of this rich but unusual plant food.