Two Massive Bull Moose Smack Paddles In Snow-Covered Yellowstone National Park

No one in their right mind would try to break up a fight between two moose.

In case you were wondering, moose often battle with one another over territory or a potential mate, and though many would assume they are trying to injure the other with their massive antlers, they are actually just attempting to see which of them can push the other the hardest.

It’s typically a battle of posturing more than it is a fight for survival.

That’s what appears to have played out in this beautiful footage from Yellowstone National Park. Wildlife photographer and Yellowstone guide Andrea Baratte was at the national park when a snowstorm rolled in and was able to capture video of two sizable bull moose smacking paddles.

And in case you didn’t know, moose are the largest of all deer in the deer family, and their height and weight might surprise you. Males are typically bigger than females, but both are still massive creatures. On average, bull moose usually stand at six feet tall at their shoulders, and can even weigh up to 1,400 pounds. Females usually measure at five feet tall and weigh anywhere from 800 to 1,000 pounds.

Though they are typically easy to spot from a distance given their size, this is still a rare sighting in Yellowstone National Park. The population of moose within the park’s perimeter is believed to have dropped to less than 200. In the 1970s, around 1,000 moose called Yellowstone home. As years have passed, deteriorating conditions of habitat, hunting outside of Yellowstone, and predators have all impacted the moose population.

So if you see one (or two) like this wildlife photographer did, it’s worth documenting.

And to add to that, we’re currently in the peak of winter in Yellowstone National Park. During this time of the year, the national park experiences brutally cold temperatures with average lows right around 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Obviously, that usually translates into any precipitation that hits the area being snow. That means that all the animals that call Yellowstone home (and aren’t hibernating) have to really tough out the winter season.

It also means that any sort of wildlife video out of Yellowstone National Park during time of the year is that much more scenic. A battle between two bull moose is already entertaining, but when you add the element of snowfall, and a snow covered Yellowstone… it’s even better.

The wildlife photographer pointed the beauty of the winter weather out, and also noted that it was unique to see the two bull moose with their antlers at this time of the year. Most lose them in between December and March, so it’s likely that the two featured in this video won’t have paddles to smack around much longer (they grow them back every year after losing them, of course).

“A small snowstorm created a beautiful scene in the park with these moose testing their strength along the river. It’s a fantastic time to watch moose in action before they all drop their antlers (many already have). The last few weeks in the park have been absolutely incredible.”

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