High Country Wildlife

The rocky mountains have often been called the backbone of the continent. This harsh, rugged land and the mountain ranges to the west of it contain most of the big chunks of wilderness left in this country. It’s the last stronghold of the Grizzly Bear and the Gray Wolf. In High Country Wildlife I have tried to show the variety of wild animals that roam the mountains of the West.
In the text I tell where the animal lives, what it eats, how it cares for its young, and the size, color, and markings of each animal.
The artwork is original, and both drawings and text are accurately portrayed. So travel the High Country trails with me. Read the text, color the pictures, and learn more about our wildlife heritage.

Book sample from Page 36: THE MOOSE

The moose is the largest member of the deer family in the world. It is dark brown in color, and full grown males, called bulls, may stand from six to seven feet at the shoulder and weigh from 900 to 1,400 pounds. The females, called cows, are smaller. They weigh from 700 to 1,000 pounds.

Only bulls have antlers, which they shed each year. They are broad, flat, and pronged. The antler’s spread averages from four to five feet in width.

Moose are northern animals. They are found from Alaska down through most of Canada, and along the northern tier of states. In the Mountain West, they range from Montana down through northeast Utah and northwest Colorado. They like forests around willow and aspen thickets, usually near water.

One, or sometimes two, babies (called calves) are born in the spring. They stay with their mothers for nearly a year. In the summer, Moose feed mainly on aquatic plants and willows. They can often be seen standing belly deep in ponds and along slow moving streams. In the winter they browse on limbs and bark of woody plants, mainly willow and aspen.

Moose are solitary animals. They seldom congregate in herds like most deer. Wolves and bears may prey on calves, the weak, and the aged, but few predators will challenge a healthy adult Moose.