In the Postavy district, concerned citizens saved a fawn from death
A calf moose, left without its mother's care, was found by citizens on the outskirts of a village in Postavy district, as reported by the Vitebsk Regional Committee for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection.
— Early in the morning of May 7, a couple found a moose calf on the edge of the village of Pozhartsy, Postavy district, — the committee informed. — The animal was wet from the night rain and could no longer walk. Looking around and making sure its mother was not nearby, the citizens sought help from the Postavy District Inspectorate of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection.
Employees of the Postavy District Inspectorate, along with a veterinarian, traveled to the village of Pozhartsy to examine the foundling. A visual inspection showed that the moose calf was 7–9 days old, had no visible injuries, and was slightly emaciated.
— Since the moose calf was very young and required special care and feeding, it was given sweetened boiled water and placed in the sun to warm up, — the committee noted. — Employees of the Postavy District Inspectorate promptly took measures for the further placement of the animal. The environmental institution "Center for the Assistance of Birds and Animals 'Pustelga'," located in the village of Losy, Molodechno district, Minsk region, responded to the call for help. This center provides assistance to wild birds and animals in distress, with the subsequent placement of animals in reserves and national parks, including their release into their natural habitat. By lunchtime, volunteers arrived for the animal and took the moose calf to the environmental institution, where it received the necessary care.
Moose inhabit the entire territory of Belarus. They are forest dwellers; in our republic, they prefer forests with a mosaic structure – a combination of marshy areas, clearings, and young forest plantations. Their habitats depend on landscape and vegetation conditions and the availability of autumn-winter deciduous feed. During the spring-summer period, moose prefer river floodplains, swamp edges, i.e., places with an abundance of green feed. A young female moose usually gives birth to one calf; mature females often have twins, triplets are extremely rare. Shortly before calving, the female separates from the herd. Calves are born in May – early June; a newborn weighs 14–16 kg. Just a few hours after birth, the calf can stand and move independently, and after 2-3 days, the calves are already able to follow their mother. At the age of 1.5–2 months, they begin to feed on plant food, and by 3 months, they completely switch to this feed.