Moose
Alces alces · Mammal, Vertebrate, Warm-blooded, Wild
Animal Family
Cervidae, order Artiodactyla, class Mammalia
Animal Category
Wild Prey / Large Herbivore
Breed / Variety
Alces alces americana (Eastern Moose)
Conservation Status
Least Concern globally, with stable or increasing populations in many regions, though southern populations can face climate and parasite pressures.
About This Creature
The moose is the largest and heaviest extant species in the deer family, characterized by the broad, palmated antlers of the males and a distinct long, droopy snout and flap of skin under the throat known as a bell. The image depicts a large cloven hoofprint in wet sand characteristic of a heavy ungulate like a moose.
Physical Characteristics
Massive body, long legs, hump over the shoulders, dark brown to blackish coat, large head with a bulbous snout, and cloven hooves that spread widely to support weight in mud or snow.
Behavior & Temperament
Generally solitary outside of mating season and mother-calf pairs; active primarily during crepuscular hours; excellent swimmers; defends itself aggressively with powerful kicks from its front and back legs.
Habitat & Diet
Origin Region
Northern regions of North America, Europe, and Asia (Circumpolar distribution in boreal and subarctic zones)
Habitat
Forest, Wetland/Marsh, Taiga; Terrestrial and semi-aquatic
Diet & Nutrition
Herbivore; feeds on terrestrial vegetation such as leaves, bark, and twigs, as well as large quantities of aquatic plants from lakes and streams for sodium.
Lifespan & Health
Lifespan is typically 15 to 25 years in the wild; threatened by wolves, bears, winter ticks, and human-related collisions; females give birth to one or two calves annually.
Special Characteristics
Possesses exceptional hearing and smell, can dive underwater for aquatic plants, and is the tallest land mammal in North America.
Ecological Information
Acts as an important browser shaping forest plant composition and nutrient cycling, serving as a primary prey source for apex predators like wolves.