The largest deer in the world, the moose whose name in Algonquian means “eater of twigs” is one of the few remaining mammals that lived through the last major ice age.

The moose is found throughout almost all of Alaska, and Canada. In the Eastern United States they are found in Maine (which boasts the largest moose population in the Continental United States), New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and parts of Massachusetts. They are also established in Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota. In the Rocky Mountains moose are found in Idaho,Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, Utah and Washington.

In Europe moose are known as “elk“, and are found throughout all of Scandinavia, Russia, Eastern Siberia, parts of  Poland and the Czech Republic.

Moose stand 6 to 7 feet at the shoulder. Bulls (males) weight between 850 to 1180 pounds, and cows (females) weight 600-800 pounds. The color of a moose is usually a dark chocolate brown upper body with white legs. They have a large overhanging snout, and a dewlap (a small beard) which is a patch of skin that hangs under their mouths. Moose antlers which are found on males only are pal-mated, and can reach spans of 6 feet in length. Like all deer moose drop their antlers in the winter, and start to grow a new set in the spring.

Mating occurs during late September and October. Bull will fight for females, with usually the largest bull coming out the winner. A single calf is born during the spring, twins are not uncommon were there is a sufficient food source. Unlike deer and elk, moose calves do not have spots when they are born, they are usually a auburn reddish brown. Cow moose are extremely protective of their young and will defend them against most predators including man. Calves will stay with their mothers until the following spring.

Moose are generally solitary mammals, although in the winter bulls and cows form small groups to search  for food.

The natural predators of the moose include, wolves, bears and mountain lions. In parts of Eastern Asia, Siberian Tigers also feed on moose. However due to their immense size most adult moose can out run, or fight off a predator. Most predators will take a sick or young moose.

Moose populations for the moment appear to be stable in most of their range. Moose are hunted both for sport and food throughout most of world where they are found.