This little scene is from the shadow box in the Latouche railcar. The portrait of the pioneer is from the Brown & Hawkins collection, circa 1907.
The tooth is from a moose's jawbone found in the spruce forest behind the railcar. After a few years the teeth have become loose, and this one fell out.
In order to stay healthy, a moose must eat 40 pounds (20 kg)of browse a day, and there are around 150,000 moose in Alaska. Several moose can be found chewing alders around the Hamptons.
Alaskan moose grow 8-10 ft long (240-310 cm) with a shoulder height of 4.6-7.8 ft. ((140-235 cm). They weigh between 440-1,815 pounds (200-825 kg) full grown. Only the males have antlers, with a spread up to 6.6 feet (2 meters) which weigh between 44-77 lbs. (20-35 kg) They usually live between 8-10 years, rarely more than 16 years.
Like range cattle, moose are unpredictable in their behavior. They have excellent hearing and smell, but poor vision. When moose perceive a threat they will often withdrawal silently into the trees and stand quietly until the danger has passed.
When they are startled they will crash noisily headlong through the brush reaching speeds of 34 mph (56 kmph). They hold their heads back so their antlers lie along the shoulders and the branches are pushed aside.
Moose are solitary creatures and do not form permanent groups. The only social bond formed is between mother and calf, and it is wise not to get between them. Russians, and early Seward pioneers, had some success domesticating moose for meat, milk, riding, and early draft work. In Alaska, this is no longer legal.
Moose is from "musee", an Algonkian Indian name. The Alaska Moose Federation encourages responsible conservation of this beautiful natural resource.
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