FAIRBANKS, Alaska, Sept. 6 (UPI) -- Reports of possible multiple births among Alaska's moose population are likely inaccurate and instead related to the species' parental habits, biologists say.
Moose research biologist Rod Boertje said while photographs taken in recent years in Delta Junction, Alaska, showed an adult moose with four calves, the multiple calves are likely the result of natural adoption rather than a birth of twins or triplets, the Fairbanks (Alaska) News-Miner said Saturday.
"Cows get killed all the time on the (Fairbanks) road system and there are newborn calves looking around for mothers," the Alaska Department of Fish and Game biologist said. "It might just have to bawl a little bit and a cow comes over and adopts it."
A triplet birth is extremely rare in most moose populations, while twin births are very uncommon. Moose are known for adopting abandoned calves and raising the animals as their own, the News-Miner said.
Tom Seaton, a Fish and Game assistant area biologist in Fairbanks, Alaska, agreed the chances the photographed calves were the result of multiple births was very unlikely.
"Freak things can happen," he told the News-Miner. "It's possible, but it's highly improbable."
