Moths were caught drinking the tears of a bull moose, but it's no crying shame.
For the first time ever, trail cameras have captured footage of moths feasting on the tears of a moose. The rare phenomenon that was caught in Vermont was studied in the Ecosphere Journal.
At first glance, this behavior might seem incredibly bizarre, but it is known as "puddling" and is thought to happen when moths are looking for nutrients like sodium.
Beyond just making for some pretty spooky pictures, the capturing of this moment was the first documented interaction between the two species.
The author of the study, Laurence Clarfeld, told Outsider, "I'd speculate that the moths are detecting whatever mineral/nutrient they are seeking, the source of which, in this case, just happens to be moose tears."
"I was even more shocked to find this particular species interaction had never been documented in the scientific literature," he continued.
Trail cameras are an incredible tool for studying animals without encroaching on their habitats and potentially causing them harm.
Whether it's capturing a glimpse of an elusive animal or sighting a new baby creature, trail cameras can allow conservationists a non-invasive insight into the animal kingdom. They can track population numbers and any health concerns of endangered creatures.
With this important footage, scientists can know how best to protect habitats and try to prevent the extinction of endangered wildlife.
Likewise, videos from trail cameras can help document successes and failures of conservation efforts.
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The more informed conservation efforts are, the more that ecosystems and rare creatures will thrive.
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"So cool! Awesome to document it for the first time!" a Facebook user commented.
"Just proves there is always something new to learn about the outdoors," another wrote.
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