https://ustoday.news/a-blonde-...nside-experts-say-2/

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USA
A blonde moose went viral — but its rare color is a downside, experts say

Photo of Camilo Morgan Camilo Morgan37 mins ago

In Alaska’s frigid arctic regions, moose herds are easy to spot – their usually brown or black coats sticking out from the moose white winter wonderland.

That is, apart from one moose that some call the “Big Blondie,” a light-colored bull that may have got its tint from a rare genetic mutation.

The brown moose became an overnight sensation after its photo — taken during an aerial survey in November — was shared on Facebook by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game last week. But while its rare color has garnered a lot of attention, the moose’s future might not be… well, quite so rosy.


“If you want your species to be a specific color, white or lighter isn’t going to help you much,” said Kimberlee Beckmen, wildlife veterinarian at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. “That lighter color is bad for a moose. Natural selection, on the other hand, selects because it either means they are less healthy or have a greater chance of being hunted.”

Beckmen said that without further investigation, it’s hard to say why this moose was born with a sandy-looking coat rather than the typical dark color that allows the species to blend in with its lush forest habitat and protect itself from hungry wolves and bears to protect. However, the moose’s coloration could be the product of a nutritional deficiency in the womb or a genetic condition called leucism — the partial loss of pigmentation.



While leucistic creatures don’t have the same red or pink eyes as albinos, they do end up having lighter facial features as well. In humans, leucism typically manifests as patches of white hair and lighter skin, Beckmen said. And in the mythical world, the platinum streaks that characterized the Targaryen family in Game of Thrones could be a fictional example of the genetic mutation, she said.

Beckmen said the effects on an animal could range from deafness to a shorter lifespan to a more likely chance of becoming a snack for predators. “These animals are much more likely to die young or be killed — I mean, there’s a reason they’re so rare.”

Although uncommon, leucism in moose is not unheard of. For example, in Sweden in 2017, a “majestic” milky moose was seen swimming in a stream. In Canada, residents were heartbroken when a white cow – thought to be a “ghost moose” – was killed in 2020. And in Alaska, a state About 200,000 moose have occasional sightings of marshmallow-colored creatures, said Mike Taras, a wildlife education and public relations specialist at the Fish and Wildlife Agency.


“In the last 20 years, I’ve heard from at least three,” Taras said. “But you have to keep in mind that our state is very, incredibly large and has very remote areas. So our chance of seeing everything is not very high. There could be more out there.”

Taras said he didn’t expect Big Blondie’s photo to garner so much attention. Perhaps, he said, “It’s a combination of its unique coloration and the fact that other people across the country may not be used to seeing moose the way we are here.”

But for Lee Kantar, a moose biologist for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife who surveys between 800 and 1,000 moose each year, it’s a “pretty nice touch” to see the giant beasts gaining some recognition.

Moose — found in the northern forests of North America and Europe — are “fascinating animals,” Kantar said. They are fiercely protective of their fellow species, survive harsh winters, serve as a source of food for humans, and drive tourism during the hunting season. But mostly, they’re trying to “live their best moose life every year,” he said.

“The life of a moose is to eat as much as possible when there’s green stuff outside. Then comes the breeding season. Then he spends time hiding until spring comes. It doesn’t sound very exciting, but it could be a dream life for some,” Kantar said.

Though evolutionary odds are stacked against him, he added he hopes the rare blonde moose is able to experience some of the same.

quote:

Originally posted by Kathi:

LINK HAS PHOTO.

First the beavers, now this. You guys/gals are trollin me!

I bet the blonde moose tastes just like the another moose.

Do we have any blonde moose jokes?

quote:

Originally posted by chuck375:
Do we have any blonde moose jokes?

Very clever sir!
I'm sure there are blonde moose jokes out there somewhere.

"A blonde moose walks into a bar! It left quite a mark on it's antlers"

Zeke

I know that black hair ones, red ones and brown one all taste about the same.

Are we still talkin about bears?

quote:

Originally posted by chuck375:
Are we still talkin about bears?

I think that is another thread.