Moose (Alces alces) in the wild — Catch'Um species field guide

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.

Scientific nameAlces alces
Length2.4–3.1 m
Height1.4–2.1 m at shoulder
Weight200–700 kg
Lifespan15–25 years in the wild
DietBrowser of willow
ConservationLeast Concern
RegionNorthern Lakes

Habitat

Boreal forest
Wetlands
Taiga
Lake shores

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

Field notes

Field scale for the Moose: length around 2.4-3.1 m; height 1.4-2.1 m at shoulder; weight 200-700 kg. Typical lifespan: 15-25 years in the wild.

When you are scanning habitat, prioritise boreal forest, wetlands, taiga, and lake shores. Those settings are where a clean look and a usable photo are most likely.

Quick ID anchor: World’s largest deer: long legs, overhanging fleshy snout, a dangling dewlap (bell), and dark brown coat. Only bulls grow the broad palmate antlers. Confirm with behaviour and habitat before you log the discovery.

Where to see one

Canada
In Canada, strong options include Banff & Jasper National Parks and Algonquin Provincial Park. Rocky Mountain wilderness, with elk, bighorn sheep, grizzly bears, and turquoise lakes beneath glacier peaks.
Open the Canada spotting guide for every park note tied to the moose.
Spotting guide for Moose in Canada

Diet

Browser of willow, birch, aspen, and other woody plants; in summer also feeds heavily on aquatic vegetation in lakes and marshes. Needs large daily intakes of browse.

Behaviour

Largely solitary outside the autumn rut, when bulls spar with antlers for mates. Moves between wetlands and forest cover; calves stay with the cow through their first year.

How to identify

World’s largest deer: long legs, overhanging fleshy snout, a dangling dewlap (bell), and dark brown coat. Only bulls grow the broad palmate antlers.

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.

Sources: IUCN Red List