While a moose sighting in Nebraska’s Panhandle is a rare occasion, this particular one has gone viral. There are many questions about the moose got there, and why it chose to be in that particular part of the state as well.
Moose Sighting in Nebraska’s Panhandle
The moose population never really existed in Nebraska, but lately there have been a few sightings of moose in the Nebraska Panhandle. This is known to happen on rare occasions and wildlife biologists believe that the moose sighting in Nebraska’s Panhandle, as seen here at the Nebraska Game and Parks Comission, is caused by the moose visiting from the neighboring state of Wyoming.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has looked into the matter and is currently working on locating the moose so that it can be gently lead back to where it originally came from. The moose was last seen in the North Platte River Valley. Hopefully, the moose will be found and returned home soon so that the moose has no problems and the citizens of Nebraska are not dealing with an enormous wild animal, as they have a tendency to wander and sometimes end up near people’s homes.
Regular Moose Habitats
A moose sighting in Nebraska’s Panhandle is quite unusual as that is not their regular habitat. They are normally seen in Wyoming and other states around the US such as Colorado (Rocky Mountains), New Hampshire, and North Dakota. There are also a lot of moose habitats in Canada in areas such as Ontario and the Canadian Maritime Provinces.
So what is determined to be a moose habitat exactly? Well, any area that has boreal or mixed-conifer forests and that can provide lush vegetation for these gentle giants to chow down could be considered its habitat, as a habitat simply describes where an animal is typically to live. There are other factors involved, such as the fact that moose regularly live in areas that are colder rather than warm, and that they prefer areas that are not as rich in humidity. They usually prefer to live around certain kinds of trees as well such as poplar and birch, as well as other plants such as eastern hemlock.
Why do Moose Cross to Nebraska Panhandle
It is thought by wildlife biologists that moose might cross over from Wyoming to the Nebraska panhandle for simple reasons, such as looking for food or water when there may not be enough in its regular habitat. It could also be due to a territorial issue as many adult male moose have their own set territories and do not like having other adult male moose on “their land” so to speak.
While there are many things that scientists and researchers do understand about moose, there is always much more to learn and discover about these gentle giants. While a moose sighting in Nebraska panhandle, as seen here at the USDA Forest service website, may not always be the ideal situation to learn more about these amazing creatures, it does raise awareness as to their different movements and behaviors. Between the efforts of the community and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, the moose is sure to be returned soon to its proper home.
A short film following a group of backpackers hiking the High Sierras’ John Muir Trail:
https://youtu.be/IkqecWDcuSw
