Various subspecies of moose are native to Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the USA and Canada. They live in boreal and deciduous woodland and their diet consists mostly of the young shoots from trees and woody plants. The moose is a large deer with thick brown fur and a noticeable neck hump. They have a characteristic nasal proboscis. The Alaska moose is the largest subspecies, males are extremely large, measuring between 1.7 and 2.3m tall at the shoulders, have a head-body length of 2.4 to 3.1m and weigh 380 to 700kg. Adult male moose have large palmate antlers that may or may not be covered in ‘velvet’ depending on the time of year. The antlers of the Alaska moose have a span of between 1.4 and 1.8m. Female moose are similar in size but weigh significantly less, usually between 200 and 490kg, and they do not have antlers.
Latin Name
Alces alces
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moose
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Animal Facts
The moose is the largest and heaviest species of deer.
The calls of the female moose during mating season can be heard 3.2km away.
The tongue, gums and lips of the moose are very tough to allow them to pick through and chew very woody material.
Moose have no upper front teeth but very sharp lower front teeth.
During the mating season male moose may become so aggressive that they will attack indiscriminately; they have been known to attack humans, wolves, deer and bears. Moose attacks are the most frequent kind of animal attack in the Americas.
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