According to wildlife biologist Victor Van Ballenberghe, “Young male moose spend a lot of time sparring or practice fighting. Sparring is practice fighting that bulls use to gain experience. It superficially resembles fighting as two or more bulls engage their antlers and push each other back and forth. Fighting is far more serious and violent. At worst, sparring results in minor breakage of antlers or perhaps minor wounds inflicted by accident. Fights often result in serious injuries, and at worst, result in death.”
“Bull moose are well-equipped to fight. At up to 1,600 pounds they are enormously powerful. Their shoulders are huge, and during the rut, their neck muscles expand to twice their normal size. Thick forehead skin acts like armor against punctures.”
More from Victor here: https://www.nps.gov/articles/aps-v5-i1-c7.htm
Filmed on April 15th 2023 in Yellowstone National Park with my Apple iPhone 13 Pro on a Vortex Razor HD 27-60X85scope.