Quick Take
- Bull moose feature broad, crown-like antlers shaped like palm leaves.
- Moose shed their antlers every year, before growing them back each spring.
- A drop in testosterone after mating causes the antlers to sever at the base.
- Males shed their loosening antlers by shaking their heads and bodies.
Moose are amazing animals. These massive deer are known for their long legs, elongated snout, and dark shaggy coat. One of their most defining features is their broad, palm-shaped antlers. But these crown-like structures are not permanent. In fact, moose shed their antlers annually. The above Instagram post, which you can see here too by @newsbuzzhotline shows a moose suddenly dropping its antlers after rapidly shaking its body for several seconds. Read here to learn how and why moose shed their antlers each year.
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Shedding Antlers
The clip above offers an amazing look at the antler shedding process. The moose shakes its whole body before its antlers are suddenly tossed to the ground. Afterward, the large animal simply runs away, leaving the antlers in the snow. It’s no wonder this act is so rarely observed, given how quickly it happens in the wild. Luckily, this dramatic transformation is actually a painless process. Over time, the antlers become dead bone tissue with no functional nerves or blood vessels. The process is often compared to how we lose our baby teeth. When a moose is ready to lose its antlers, it will shake its head to loosen them. They may also rub them against trees to help weaken the base. But, when and why do they lose their antlers?
Moose shed their antlers annually, in late fall to mid-winter, roughly December to January. The timing often varies based on region, age, and overall health. A moose’s antlers grow during the breeding season to impress females and spar with rival males. After the mating season is over, their testosterone levels drop. This quick hormonal change triggers the cells at the base of the antlers to sever the bone connection, which loosens the antlers. This loss of connection is why they seemingly fall off so easily in the video above. Starting in the spring, a new set of antlers rapidly develops. By the end of summer, most moose’s antlers are fully grown, concluding one round of the yearly cycle.
