Moose Facts

About the moose

In North America it is the tallest land animal and second in bulk only to the American bison. Other deer grow pointed, twig-like antlers, but a moose's are wide and flat. Moose live in the boreal forests that ring the north and in temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, doing well in cool temperate and subarctic climates. Canada holds the biggest populations, with many more in Alaska, Russia and northern Europe.

Moose browse on land plants and water plants depending on the season, and in winter much of their diet is branches, twigs and even dead wood. Wolves, bears and humans hunt them, and wolverines or orcas take one rarely. Unlike most deer, moose do not form herds and live alone, apart from calves staying with their mothers.

Did you know?

• Another common name for the moose is the elk, and its scientific name is Alces alces.
• Hunting and habitat loss have broken up moose range, so some towns now see urban moose.
• Moose have been reintroduced to some places where they once lived.