Overview

The moose is the largest member of the deer family, standing over two metres at the shoulder and weighing up to 700 kilograms. Bulls grow enormous palmate antlers each spring, shedding them after the autumn rut when their deep grunts echo across boreal lakes and wetlands.

Moose are superb swimmers, often submerging to feed on aquatic plants, and surprisingly quick on land despite their ungainly appearance. A bull moose stepping from morning mist at a lake edge is one of North America's great wildlife moments.

Habitat

Boreal forest, lakes, and wetlands across Alaska, northern US states, and Canada suit moose. They need aquatic vegetation in summer and willow and birch browse in winter, favouring country with young forest regrowth after fire or logging.

Countries found

Interesting facts

01
Moose antlers can span 1.8 metres and weigh over 30 kg.
02
They can dive and stay submerged for up to a minute to reach aquatic plants.
03
Calves can outrun a human within days of being born.

Conservation status

LC — Least Concern

Moose are Least Concern globally but declining in parts of the southern US due to warming, parasites, and habitat change. Northern Canadian and Alaskan populations remain strong.