DROOLING FOR FOOD

We have had exceptional amounts of rain in the Midwest this summer. So, when I ran across an article on drooling by animals, I drooled with curiosity.*

It seems that moose and reindeer slobber when they graze on grasses. They have good reason to drool. Scientist have found that grasses enjoyed by such animals host certain fungi that produce strong alkaline toxins. These toxins can make animals so sick that they avoid munching on the grasses.

Big animals, however, fight back against such grass defenses by drooling on their anticipated meal. Moose saliva dropped onto grass has been found to reduce toxin levels on the grass by up to 70% over time and to slow the spread of fungi. Of course, spit is not like shaking salt for seasoning prior to digging in. Time is required for saliva to do its thing.

Scientists have studied animal drool by having zoos collect spit when animals were anesthetized for medical reasons. That sounds like a fun job, although the procedure is not entirely clear.

Interestingly, drool reduced toxins only on grasses in good growing environments. Drooling on water stressed grasses did not counteract toxins. So, water has an important role for good moose meals.

One wonders what came first: did animals evolve to produce drool in order to combat fungi in grasses desired for food, or was drool developed for some other purpose and by chance animals found that it made grass eating more appetizing? No doubt, further research would be needed.

Santa Claus is said to have eight reindeer. I do not recall any story about them drooling as he makes his rounds. I do recall, however, my mother admonishing me as a child to keep my mouth shut while eating because drool has no place at the table. Now, my wife says the same thing. Frankly, drooling never made a meal taste better for me, although I often have drooled like a moose for some chocolate mousse. Now that is food for thought.

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*"Moose Drool Subdues Grass Defenses,"
Science Newa, August 23, 2014, p. 9