Moose

The moose, Alces alces, is the largest member of the deer family, Cervidae. It is found in North America from Alaska to eastern Canada, south into the northwestern United States, and in Europe and Asia from Norway to Mongolia. The name moose is an American Indian word, and in Europe the moose is known by the old Germanic name elk. An elk in North America, however, is an entirely different deer, Cervus canadensis.

The moose is a massive animal with long legs, a large head, and an elongated, overhanging muzzle. A long flap of skin, called the bell, hangs beneath its throat. Large bulls may be 3.1 m (10 ft) in length, plus a short tail, and up to 825 kg (1,800 lb) in weight. Bulls typically also have large, broad, spoon-shaped spiked antlers, which may be 1.8 m (6 ft) across.

Moose are found principally in moist woods of willows, poplars, and birch, on which they browse. They also wade into lakes to feed on aquatic plants such as water lilies. Mating occurs in early fall, and gestation lasts 8 months, with one, often two, and occasionally three young being born in late spring.