Orphaned Moose Finds New Home at Columbus Zoo

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: October 21, 2021 1:40 pm

Strawberry, an orphaned moose calf from Alaska in her new enclosure at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

Photo Credit: Grahm S. Jones, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

After a challenging start to life orphaned moose calf Strawberry has found a new home and family at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

Strawberry came to Columbus in Ohio on October 12th 2021 from Alaska Zoo. She was accompanied on her travels by Columbus Zoo’s Vice President of Animal Health and the assistant curator of the facility’s North America region.

She had been cared for by Alaska Zoo since her rescue in June 2021. Strawberry was named after Strawberry Road which is where residents sighted her without her mother. It was unusual for the calf to be alone and following a couple of days of observation it was decided that intervention would be necessary.

Alaska Zoo provide a home for two bull moose an are currently providing care to a number of other orphaned calves. As such it was decided that new homes should be sought for some of the calves.

Columbus Zoo were able to take in Strawberry while the NEW Zoo & Adventure Park in Wisconsin received another orphaned moose, Taco.

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Strawberry has been eating well and gaining weight since arriving at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Each morning she is provided with a supplemental feed of milk and given browse to munch on throughout the day.

At present she is undergoing a quarantine period to ensure she is healthy. She is given access to the moose yard to get used to the smells present. At the end of this she will be introduced to resident moose Bertha.

Bertha was also an infant. She arrived at the Columbus Zoo in 2013 after being orphaned when her mother was chased by a grizzly bear.

“As zoo and aquarium professionals, our Animal Care team at the Columbus Zoo is happy that we have the expertise and facilities to provide orphaned animals like Strawberry and Bertha with exceptional care. These two moose certainly had a challenging start in life. While we wish that nothing had happened to their mothers, we are proud to be able to provide them with the second chance that they deserve, while also inspiring our guests to learn more about this important North American species.” said Dr. Jan Ramer, Senior Vice President of Animal Care and Conservation at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

Moose are found in parts of northern North America and Europe. In Europe they are known as elk. Alaskan moose are the world’s largest deer by weight tipping the scales at over 1,000lbs as adults.

Strawberry currently has access to her barn and yard as she settles in. As such guests visiting the zoo may be able to view her.