Two young male moose and an adult female recently approached the Aerodrom cordon within the Kronotsky Nature Reserve. The animals were initially spotted from a distance as they traversed the tundra. They subsequently moved behind the cordon from the southeast, where they began to graze and peer through the willow branches. The female approached the closest, actively observing the area and testing the air for scents.
While the gathering initially resembled a typical group preparing to mate, the biological reality proved more complex. The rutting season officially concluded in the first ten days of October. The young bulls are currently exhibiting hormonal inertia – displaying lingering elements of mating behavior. These two males differ significantly in size, and during an active rut, the larger bull would have immediately driven the smaller one away. The female is fully grown and adult, meaning her mating phase would have occurred during the normal seasonal window.
The floodplain of the Kronotskaya River, where the cordon is located in the middle reaches, serves as an optimal winter habitat for moose. The region is characterized by shallow snow and an abundance of accessible forage. Biological assessments indicate that these ungulates waited for the bears to vacate the river before approaching to settle for the winter.