Why do the moose swim across the river in Kullberg?

The moose swimming across the Ångerman River are far from new. Probably moose have passed the river in this place for many thousands of years. Maybe even since the Stone Age. A system of trapping pits suggests that.

- It is probably the easiest route in the landscape. The elk do as they have done many, many years back in time because the landscape looks about the same as it was several thousand years ago, explains moose researcher Wiebke Neumann at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU.

Before the Ångerman River was regulated, there were fighting rapids both north and south of Kullberg. Maybe this was the best place to swim. Then the knowledge first moves on to moose generation after moose generation.

- The cow walks with the calf and then the calf learns the way between summer and winter, notes Wiebke Neumann.

Moose with this type of migratory behavior are found mainly in Norrland, it is about a nutritional walk where the animals seek other pastures in the summertime. Many of the moose are also pregnant and are looking for areas where calving is appropriate.

- Some go up to the mountains while others walk only a few kilometers, Wiebke Neumann explains, explaining that information about the hike has been obtained by following moose equipped with GPS transmitters.

This year's moose walk in Kullberg has offered the moose new surprises, the remote controlled cameras have caused the animals to stop and sometimes take other roads. But Wiebke Neumann does not believe that television production prevented the animals from swimming across the river.

- I do not think so, then probably the migration drive is much greater, she says.