Seasons of the Moose
Late summer rafters and canoeists on the Clearwater are a fortunate lot. Water levels are manageable, temperatures are tolerable, and the mighty moose that appear on the river's banks can be viewed in their red-coated, velvet-antlered glory.

Even if they are already familiar with this quintessentially Canadian mammal, river travellers may be startled by the massiveness of the Clearwater variety. With its huge head, long, broad snout, bulky bodies, lanky legs and short, stubby tail, the moose is by far the largest of the deer family. Bulls may weigh up to 750 kilograms and stand 2 metres high, while cows will be of similar height but somewhat lighter in weight.

An Animal in its Prime: The adult moose that appears on the Clearwater in mid-August will have shed its faded, grayish winter coat in favour of a new, short, dark brown hide that has gradually turned a rich, reddish-brown and black. It will be mid-September before its heavy undercoat of wool and coarse guard hairs thickens in anticipation of colder temperatures.

The white, shovel-shaped antlers ("rack") of the mature Bull Moose will have reached their full size by summer's end, and will be covered in a velvety coating of skin and hair. (In just a few more weeks, the blood supply to the antlers will be cut off, and the velvet will begin to shed. The moose will scrape continuously against trees and bushes until all the velvet is gone. The antlers will eventually darken and fall off during the winter season.)

Moose cows will not have any antlers at all, but both sexes will sport a characteristic "bell" below their throats. This hanging flap of skin can grow as long as 25 centimetres in males and plays an important role in transferring scent from bulls to cows during "chinning" behaviour. As a means of sensory perception, the bell compensates for the moose's relatively poor eyesight.

Personality Change: The moose of the mellow summer season is likely to appear mild and serene, as it calmly chews its herbivorous way through the boreal forest. Stripping off fresh leaves with its tough, thick tongue, the moose uses 12 sets of broad, flattened teeth at the rear of its mouth to consume its woody diet.

Barely a month later, however, the lumbering giant that grazed so sedately on the riverbank can become a noisy, unpredictable and even dangerous animal. During the mating "rut," bulls emit a deep, remarkably loud grunt and cows bawl with a high-pitched wail. Bulls with larger antlers will be dominant, but courting males of equal size may lock antlers and fight to the death, overcome with exhaustion and starvation. Cows can be similarly ferocious in spring and early summer. Moose mothers protecting their helpless newborn calves will be fiercely aggressive in their defense, charging at any threat and striking viciously with both front feet.

Moose Mortality: The moose is a sturdy survivor. Despite its awkward appearance, a healthy adult moose can run quickly (up to 55 kilometres per hour) and swim long distances. Its long legs and large feet, designed to wade through deep snow and muskeg, can also defend it from predators. The main threats to moose mortality are:
• Predation - Most moose can fend off a lone timber wolf, but a group of 4 or 5 wolves can overcome an adult, particularly when they are grouped together or "yarded" in deep snow. Newborns, yearlings and sick or disabled moose are more easily preyed upon by wolves, wolverines and black bears.
• Snow Conditions - Wading through snow depths of over 90 centimetres is a challenge for even the tallest moose. Heavily crusted snow may pierce its forelegs and crack its hooves, making it more vulnerable to predation.
• Disease - Parasites such as bladder worm can sicken and weaken the moose. "Moose disease", spread by white-tailed deer, can be fatal.

Bald Eagles in Abundance
It's not surprising that visitors to the Clearwater River may become a little nonchalant about bald eagles. In the undisturbed wilderness of this northern waterway, these North American birds of prey have flourished. Upriver canoeists quickly become accustomed to the sight of the soaring birds rising and falling on columns of air.

White Heads and Tails: Bald eagle watchers can quickly confirm that the birds are not actually bald, but white-headed. They are the only large bird species on the continent that is also white-tailed. Their adult plumage, which includes a sharply contrasting blackish-brown back and yellow feet and bill, takes about 4 years to develop. Female bald eagles are slightly larger than males, measuring 90 centimetres in height and 5-6 kilograms in weight, with an impressive wingspan of up to 2 metres.

The eagles glimpsed by a summer visitor will have no difficulty adapting to the much harsher temperatures of the winter. Their feathers - about 7,000 in all - are lined with down. They are also strong and flexible and can adapt to weather changes simply by changing position. Feet are mostly tendon, and beaks have little blood supply.

A Keen Appetite: The bald eagle is a type of fish, or sea, eagle and will often be seen swooping down to the river's surface to snatch fish from the water with a lightning-quick swipe of its talons. The eagle doesn't have to eat every day, but when it does, it can consume up to half a kilogram within one minute. The bald eagle's diet is not restricted to fish. It will prey upon small animals such as otters, ducks and muskrats and as a scavenger, will also dine on carrion.

Nearing a Nest: Bald eagle nests, usually located close to the river's edge, are impressive structures. Since eagles return to their roosts year after year, nests can become enormous, measuring up to 1.5 metres in diameter, and weighing hundreds of kilograms. They may be conical, disk-shaped or bowl-shaped, depending on the shape of the tree branches that support them.

Remember to keep your distance when observing or photographing bald eagle nests. Getting too close may cause the birds to abandon their young.

Entering the Taiga Zone
A journey on the Clearwater River is also a journey through the heart of one of the world's most extensive forest zones. Known by its Russian name, "taiga," this forest type is sometimes referred to as "boreal" or "northern coniferous."

The taiga is a nearly continuous belt of coniferous (cone-bearing) trees that sweeps across both North American and Eurasia, lying south of the tundra over formerly glaciated areas. Corresponding to subarctic and cold continental climates, the taiga forest has several distinguishing characteristics:
• Winters are long and severe, and summers are short and warm.
• Rainfall is moderately high and is spread throughout the course of the year.
• Little water is evaporated by the sun, resulting in numerous ponds, lakes and bogs known as "muskegs."
• The forest is a mixture of successional and subclimax plant communities. Tree species are relatively few in number, and include spruce, fir, pine and deciduous larch (tamarack), alder, birch and aspen.
• Leaves continuously cover the ground, contributing to acidic soil which slows down the process of decay.
• Soil remains moist, promoting the growth of moss and lichens.

Efficient Evergreens: Tree Species such as spruce and fir are ingeniously adapted to the taiga climate. The narrow, conical shape of their needles promotes the shedding of snow, and reduces the surface area through which moisture may be lost during the winter freeze. A thick, waxy coating on the needles protects them from drying winds, and an internal chemical repels grazing animals.

Retention of evergreen needles year round allows them to begin photosynthesis as soon as warmer temperatures arrive, without devoting precious time to growing leaves. Even the dark colour of the evergreen is an asset, helping the trees to quickly absorb a maximum of heat.