what can you tell about this moose?

[forestgnome]

I saw this bull moose today. Can anyone tell anything about him by these pictures. He won't be winning any rutts with this rack. Does the rack show that he is a juvenile or geriatric?

He looks alot like a bull I once saw that had wasting disease. That one was drooling profusely and looked lathargic, eyes were bloodshot. He even let me pet him! This one was not drooling or lathargic, but the eyes were bloodshot and the rack was the same size (same time of year).

He seems like a senior citizen to me. I understand that nutrition also effects antler size.

Any thoughts?

 

[sli74]

Wow, he looked very close to you . . . he does look like an older moose to me.

sli74

 

[Artex]

Poor guy. I doubt he'll be winning over any females in the upcoming rut.

 

[Waumbek]

It could be an old moose or what's known as a "ghost moose," a moose with a tick infestation. The ticks ultimately suck the moose dry of blood and infections set in from the moose trying to groom by rubbing against trees, which causes hair loss and the pale appearance. Do a search under "winter ticks" on this site and you'll find more about parasites and moose.

 

[Rick]

He looks like an older moose that is out to pasture now and past his prime. In fact, I'm feeling sorry for the old guy (Us old guys gotta stick together) I bet he would have some stories to tell if he could speak....

Would you have kept him if he followed you home

 

[jjmcgo]

FN, I'm curious

as to why you touched an animal that you identified as having "wasting disease?"
In humans, the wasting disease is known as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) a rare, degenerative, invariably fatal brain disorder. Scientists aren't certain how the "prion" is transmitted from one person to another or from one species to another.
It is believed from incidents in Great Britain and in Manitoba, that wasting disease, although known by different names in animals (mad cow disease is one) and humans, can be transmitted by contact.
Eating infected meat is another way. It appears about a dozen people got CJB at Garden State Park racetrack in Cherry Hill, NJ, eating at one of the restaurants there.
I was taught the basic rule that you do not touch any animal in the wild that will let you touch it. You shouldn't trust any animal that doesn't try to avoid you. They are either sick or en route to eating you.
I'm definitely not trying to flame, just spread information in the hopes of finding a consensus on this.

 

[Barry Sr]

as to why you touched an animal that you identified as having "wasting disease?"
In humans, the wasting disease is known as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) a rare, degenerative, invariably fatal brain disorder. Scientists aren't certain how the "prion" is transmitted from one person to another or from one species to another.
It is believed from incidents in Great Britain and in Manitoba, that wasting disease, although known by different names in animals (mad cow disease is one) and humans, can be transmitted by contact.
Eating infected meat is another way. It appears about a dozen people got CJB at Garden State Park racetrack in Cherry Hill, NJ, eating at one of the restaurants there.
I was taught the basic rule that you do not touch any animal in the wild that will let you touch it. You shouldn't trust any animal that doesn't try to avoid you. They are either sick or en route to eating you.
I'm definitely not trying to flame, just spread information in the hopes of finding a consensus on this.

Can you turn me in the direction as to where you learned about CJD and wasting disease? I have been taught differently.

 

[forestgnome]

as to why you touched an animal that you identified as having "wasting disease?"
In humans, the wasting disease is known as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) a rare, degenerative, invariably fatal brain disorder. Scientists aren't certain how the "prion" is transmitted from one person to another or from one species to another.
It is believed from incidents in Great Britain and in Manitoba, that wasting disease, although known by different names in animals (mad cow disease is one) and humans, can be transmitted by contact.
Eating infected meat is another way. It appears about a dozen people got CJB at Garden State Park racetrack in Cherry Hill, NJ, eating at one of the restaurants there.
I was taught the basic rule that you do not touch any animal in the wild that will let you touch it. You shouldn't trust any animal that doesn't try to avoid you. They are either sick or en route to eating you.
I'm definitely not trying to flame, just spread information in the hopes of finding a consensus on this.

!!!

It happened many years ago (1995?)in Carter Notch. At the time, I thought he was dying of old age and I wanted to comfort him. He seemed to want help. He was standing in the middle of Bog Brook Trail. I hung out with him for a half hour. I had to ease by him off the trail a bit and as I got back on the trail and left he kept watching me. It was sad. Hours later, after hiking up to Carter Dome and back, he was still there. My German Shepard didn't even phase him, although Einstein is mellow beyond belief. He just stared at me with sad eyes as we eased by him again. So I took a few more pictures and talked to him awhile. That's when I petted him like a horse. He seemed to be comforted by it.

When I called NH F@G, he was much more blunt than your polite inquiry. In fact stupiduty may have been one of the terms used. But he was talking about taking an antler through the ribs. He also explained wasting disease. I don't recall him talking about transmission.

I wouldn't do it again, though. I'm much too paranoid of germs now.

note...my photography skills were in the infancy stage

 

[WhiteMTHike]

That moose (the one you petted) looks extremely unhealthy. I do admire your good intentions and campassion for animals but you really did take a chance.

BTW, That is one beautiful dog.