The European Moose (Alces alces) or European Elk as it is referred too across the pond is found throughout all of Scandinavia, Poland, Czech Republic, The Baltic States, The Ukraine, Russian Federation, Siberia (to the Yenisei River), Kazakhstan, Northern China and parts of Mongolia.  There are occasional reports of moose in Germany(easternmost part), Austria, Hungary and Romania. The moose has been extinct in the Caucasus region for over 200 years.

European Moose do differ in many ways from the North American and Siberian Moose cousins. European moose are smaller in size males stand 60-75 inches at the shoulder and weigh from 900 to 1,100 pounds females are smaller. Eurasian moose also have a shorter nose as and less defined hump than their North American and Siberian cousins. European moose also have a lighter coat color(light brown) and the whitish color found on their legs tends to be lighter in color and extend higher up the back of  the legs.  One of the more obvious difference between the Eurasian and American/Siberian Moose is antlers size and growth. European Moose antlers are smaller in size and weight less than other species.  The European species also tend to have more cervine antler growth than other moose species, Cervine antlers grow outward with only branched points as opposed to being pal-mated or flattened out. Another fascinating thing about the European Moose is they have a chromosome number of 68 as opposed to 70 in the North American and Siberian Species.

There are an estimated 1 million moose in Europe with the majority of those living in Scandinavia where they have been a part of  Scandinavian culture for centuries. Moose have few natural predators in Europe, with bears and wolves being the  moose’s only real threat other than humans. In Scandinavia moose have been hunted for centuries, in fact the Elk hound was bread for this specific purpose.

Currently the moose population in Europe is stable. Conservation has played a major part in restoring healthy populations in the Czech Republic, Finland and Poland which now house sizeable large and healthy populations. Moose will continue to be an important part of many Europeans lives an culture.

European Moose Range

European Moose Images