SIOUX CITY, Iowa – A moose wandered around the Hidden Acres golf course 1-1/2 miles north of town the other day – the first of its species spotted in Iowa in 47 years. The state wildlife agency said the moose probably wandered south from Minnesota, which is home to 4,000 moose, mostly way Up North, or perhaps North Dakota. A moose, probably the same animal, had been spotted also over the past few weeks around Plymouth County. where Sioux City is located.
Grazing the golf course. Any golfers at risk? None were golfing in these subfreezing days.
Moose profile
Moose are the largest of the deer family.They stand as tall as seven feet at the shoulder and weigh as much as a 800 pounds. Dangerous? Not usually unless hungry or tired. But beware if irked. They can charge at 35 mph. Moose are strong and can swim 10 miles. They are land and aquatic grazers that prefer swampy areas but eat twigs and branches in snowy seasons. They wander. Male moose roam a 52 square mile home range in winter, female 18 square miles. They have few natural predators. About 1.5 million exist in North America.