What is a moose's “bell”?

A flap of furry skin under the throat

What might the moose's strange nose be good for?

Closing the nostrils under water

Which is a warning sign from a moose?

Ears laid back and hump hairs raised

A moose charges at you. What do wildlife experts say to do?

Run and get behind something solid, like a tree or car

Moose twins are most common…

Where food and habitat are good

Moose

Q: How to identify Moose?

Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

Q: What does Moose eat?

Moose are plant-eaters that munch on leaves, twigs, bark, and even plants found under the water.

Q: Where is Moose usually found?

Forests, wetlands, and near lakes.

Q: Is a moose the same as an elk?

Yes and no. In Europe, Alces alces is called the elk, and in North America it is called the moose: same animal. But the North American “elk” is a different deer, Cervus canadensis, also called the wapiti.

Q: How big is a moose?

Moose are the largest living deer. They can stand up to about 2.3 m at the shoulder. Prime Alaskan bulls weigh 542–725 kg and cows 364–591 kg.

Q: Can moose swim?

Yes, they are excellent swimmers. They cross rivers and lakes, cool off in water and feed on water plants. In Alaska, moose apparently swim about 10 km across Clarence Strait.

Q: What do moose eat?

Mostly leaves and twigs of willow and other shrubs, plus water plants such as water lilies in summer and woody browse and subalpine fir in winter. In Yellowstone an adult eats up to about 23 kg a day in summer and about 4.5–5.5 kg in winter.

Q: Are moose dangerous?

Moose are not usually aggressive, but they are huge and will defend themselves and their calves. In Alaska, more people are injured by moose than by bears each year. Stay far away, keep dogs back and never feed them. If one charges, get behind a tree, building or car.

Q: Do moose have twins?

Often. A cow has one or two calves, born in late May or June. Twins range from under 10% of births in poor habitat to as many as 75% in good habitat, and triplets happen occasionally.

Alces alces

The moose (Alces alces), called the elk in Europe, is the largest living member of the deer family. It lives in the northern forests and wetlands of North America, Europe and Asia, browsing on willow and other shrubs and wading into lakes for water plants. Bulls grow a new set of broad antlers every summer and shed them at the start of winter.

Also known as Elk (in Europe), Eurasian elk, Eurasian moose

Moose abilities

≈2.5 cm antler growth a day
Every summer a bull grows a brand-new set of antlers, then drops them in early winter and starts again.
- Alaskan biologists say a big bull can grow a 36 kg rack in one summer, adding about 2.5 cm and 0.45 kg of bone a day.
- Antler regrowth is one of the fastest ways any animal builds a body part. Deer are the only mammals that regrow a whole organ every year.
- Growing antlers are covered in velvet. Bulls rub it off on small trees before the rut in late September.
- Bulls shed their antlers at the start of winter, which helps them save energy.
One summer's antlers vs a newborn calf
Antlers grown in one summer≈36 kg
Newborn moose calf13–16 kg
A big bull's new antlers can weigh as much as 2 or 3 newborn calves.
Sources [2, 3, 4, 11]
≈10 km reported sea-strait swim
Moose are excellent swimmers. They paddle across rivers and lakes, and even across stretches of sea.
- In Alaska, moose apparently swim about 10 km across Clarence Strait to reach Prince of Wales Island.
- On hot days moose wade or swim to cool down, and to reach water plants.
- We found no measured swimming speed, so we don't give one.
Sources [2, 5, 9]
up to 23 kg food a day in summer
In early summer moose wade into lakes for water plants, which are full of the salt (sodium) their bodies crave.
- Water plants have much more sodium and iron than twigs. In a taste test, moose chose the plants with the most sodium.
- In one study, water-plant feeding peaked in late June and early July, after moose had visited salty mineral licks in late spring.
- Moose wade in on their long legs and eat plants off the bottom.
- In Yellowstone, an adult eats about 4.5–5.5 kg of food a day in winter and up to about 23 kg in summer.
How much a moose eats in a day
Summerup to ≈23 kg
Winter≈4.5–5.5 kg
Yellowstone figures (fresh food). Winter twigs are poorer food, and moose eat much less.
Sources [3, 9, 12, 13]
Stereo? smell, still untestedStill debated
The moose's strange nose is unlike any other deer's. It may help it smell in stereo and close up under water.
- Scans and dissections show huge nostrils, extra muscles, big cartilages and fatty pads.
- The nostrils sit far apart and face sideways. Scientists think this could help a moose tell which direction a smell is coming from.
- Most of the nose's features point to a nostril-closing system. Both ideas still need testing.
Sources [6]
≈25 cm ear lengthStill debated
Long ears pick up sounds in the forest, and a bull's broad antlers might even help by bouncing sound towards them.
- Moose ears are about 25 cm long.
- A 2008 study suggested that the flat, palm-shaped antlers of bulls may work like a satellite dish, reflecting sound to the ears.
- This is one small study, so treat the antler idea as a hypothesis.
Sources [1, 14]
Sep–Oct calling season
In the autumn rut both sexes call: cows give a long, drawn-out groan and bulls answer with low, repeated grunts.
- The rut peaks in late September and early October.
- Rival bulls grunt at each other, then push their antlers together.
- Bulls hardly eat during the rut. Scientists think this is linked to the scent-marking they do at the same time.
Sources [2, 3, 15]
−5 °C too warm in winter
Moose are built for cold. In winter they start to overheat when it gets warmer than about −5 °C.
- At −25 to −30 °C, moose fluff up their hair but don't need to burn extra energy to stay warm.
- In winter their breathing speeds up when it rises above −5 °C. In summer that happens above 14 °C, and they pant with open mouths from 20 °C.
- Their hollow guard hairs, 15–25 cm long, make a warm winter coat.
Sources [1, 16]
Ears back means too close
Before a moose charges, it usually warns you. Learn the signs and give it lots of space.
- Warning signs: the long hairs on the hump stand up, the ears go flat back and the moose may lick its lips or stare straight at you.
- Most charges are bluffs, but don't wait to find out. Get behind something solid, like a tree, a building or a car.
- Take extra care near cows with young calves, which defend them fiercely, and keep dogs well away.
Sources [5, 7]

Tap a pin on the model or a part below.

up to 35 kg a full set of antlers
- Only bulls grow antlers. They are the largest antlers of any living mammal and can weigh up to about 35 kg.
- A big bull grows a whole new set in a single summer, adding about 2.5 cm and 0.45 kg of bone a day.
- While they grow, antlers are covered in soft, furry skin called velvet, fed by blood vessels. Bulls rub it off on small trees before the rut.
- The biggest antlers usually grow when a bull is 10 to 12 years old.
Sources [1, 2, 3]
Both sexes can have a bell
- The bell, or dewlap, is a flap of fur-covered skin that hangs under the throat.
- Bulls have the most obvious bells. Cows may or may not have one.
Sources [1, 4, 5]
Unique nose among deer
- A moose has a long, drooping muzzle that hangs over its mouth.
- Inside are huge nostrils, extra muscles and fatty pads. No other deer has a nose built like this.
- Anatomists think its main job is closing the nostrils, which could perhaps help when a moose feeds in water.
Sources [1, 6]
≈25 cm ear length
- Moose have long ears, about 25 cm.
- Ears laid flat back, like an angry cat or dog, are a warning sign: you are too close.
Sources [1, 5, 7]
up to 2.3 m height at the shoulder
- A short, thick neck and humped shoulders hold up the moose's heavy head and antlers.
- At the hump a big moose can stand up to about 2.3 m tall.
- When a moose is upset, the long hairs on its hump stand up.
Sources [1, 3, 7]
up to 23 kg food a day in summer
- Moose browse: they strip leaves and twigs from willows and other shrubs and trees.
- Where there are many moose, they can leave a browse line 1.8–2.4 m above the ground, with almost no leaves below it.
- In summer they also eat water plants such as water lilies and duckweed.
Sources [2, 3]
70 cm snow that limits their range
- Long legs let moose wade into lakes and cope with deep snow better than any other hoofed animal in the Yellowstone area.
- Scientists rank snow skills by chest height and how much weight each foot carries. Moose score high.
- Even so, snow deeper than about 70 cm for long periods seems to stop moose spreading further north.
Sources [1, 3, 8]
15–25 cm length of winter hairs
- The coat is very dark brown to almost black.
- Its long guard hairs are hollow, which traps air and keeps the moose warm.
- Newborn calves are red-brown. By late summer they grow a coat like their mother's.
Sources [1, 2, 9]
≈3.4× more food in July than January
- Microbes in the moose's gut ferment tough plant food, and that fermentation makes heat.
- With a huge body, no sweating and all that gut heat, moose can't cope with temperatures above about 27 °C for long.
- In a study of two moose cows, they ate about 3.4 times more (by dry weight, for their size) in July than in January.
Sources [1, 10]
8–12 cm a tiny tail
- For such a big animal, the tail is tiny: about 8–12 cm.
- In winter, when bulls have no antlers, a white patch under the tail shows that a moose is a cow.
Sources [1, 3]

Real moose

Photos from Wikimedia Commons. Some of them can repaint the 3D model.

BullAdult male with broad, flat antlers from spring to early winter and a large bell under the throat.Prime Alaskan bulls weigh 542–725 kgA bull with palm-shaped antlers, Glacier National Park, USA. Photo: Glacier National Park (NPS), Public domain
CowAdult female with no antlers and often a smaller bell or none. A pale patch under the tail helps tell her from a bull without antlers.Alaskan cows weigh 364–591 kgA cow feeding in a lake, Glacier National Park. Photo: David Restivo (NPS), Public domain
Cow with calfNewborn calves are red-brown and weigh about 13–16 kg. They stay close to their mother for about a year.Twins are common where food is goodA cow with twin calves. Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
BullAdult male with broad, flat antlers from spring to early winter and a large bell under the throat.Prime Alaskan bulls weigh 542–725 kgAntlers still growing, in velvet, Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge, Wyoming. Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
A cow swimming ahead of her calf, Isle Royale, USAPhoto: NPS, Public domain
Cow with calfNewborn calves are red-brown and weigh about 13–16 kg. They stay close to their mother for about a year.Twins are common where food is goodCow and calf feeding in the Bowron River, British Columbia, Canada. Photo: Benoit Brummer (Trougnouf), CC BY 4.0
BullAdult male with broad, flat antlers from spring to early winter and a large bell under the throat.Prime Alaskan bulls weigh 542–725 kgEarly-season snow on a bull's antlers, Denali, Alaska. Photo: Jacob W. Frank (NPS), Public domain
Long legs for deep snow, Yellowstone, USAPhoto: Addy Falgoust (NPS), Public domain
BullAdult male with broad, flat antlers from spring to early winter and a large bell under the throat.Prime Alaskan bulls weigh 542–725 kgA Eurasian elk (moose) bull in a moose park in Jämtland, Sweden. Photo: Erik van Elderen, CC0
White mooseA rare moose with a white or mostly white coat. White moose have been recorded in northern Ontario, Canada, and photographed in Norway.Very rare. We found no study of why their coat is whiteA rare white moose in Norway. Photo: Lasse Dybdahl, CC BY-SA 4.0

Moose by the numbers

Measured by scientists and wildlife agencies, with comparisons you can picture.

Bull weight: 542–725 kg; prime Alaskan bulls; up to 771 kg recorded⁠[4, 1, 18]; Bull moose725 kgBull wapiti (American elk)320 kg
Cow weight: 364–591 kg; adult Alaskan cows⁠[4]
Shoulder height: up to 2.3 m; the largest living deer⁠[1, 3, 18]; Moose2.3 mBull wapiti1.5 m
Antler weight: up to 35–36 kg; grown in one summer; as heavy as 2 or 3 newborn calves⁠[1, 2, 4]
Antler growth: ≈2.5 cm a day; plus about 0.45 kg of bone a day⁠[2]
Food per day: up to 23 kg; in summer; about 4.5–5.5 kg in winter; about 4–5 times more in summer than in winter⁠[3]
Calf at birth: 13–16 kg; about 10 times heavier 5 months later⁠[4, 2]
Twins: <10% to 75%; of births, from poor to good habitat⁠[4, 19]
Pregnancy: ≈230 days; calves born in late May or June⁠[2, 1, 3]
Lifespan: rarely over 16 years; in the wild⁠[2, 4]

Moose myths and facts

Tap Myth or Fact for each claim, then check the answer.

0 of 8 answered

“In Europe, “elk” means the same animal as the North American moose.”
“Moose antlers are one of the fastest-growing body parts of any animal.”
“Bull moose keep their antlers all year.”
“Only bull moose have a bell.”
“Moose are gentle giants that never hurt people.”
“Bull moose barely eat during the rut.”
“A moose can stay under water for minutes when it dives for plants.”
“A moose's hollow hair helps it float.”

Moose records

Superlatives and record holders, each checked against its source.

Biggest deer alive
up to 2.3 m tall
Moose
the largest member of the deer family; prime bulls weigh 542–725 kg⁠[1, 4]
Biggest antlers of any mammal
up to 35 kg
Bull moose
the largest antlers of any living mammal⁠[1]
Speed-grown bone
≈2.5 cm a day
Moose antlers
called the fastest-growing tissue in any mammal⁠[2, 11]
Heaviest moose subspecies
771 kg
Alaska moose (Alces alces gigas)
the heaviest bull on record in the species account⁠[1]
Long-distance swim
≈10 km
Alaskan moose
reportedly across Clarence Strait to Prince of Wales Island⁠[2]

A moose year

From calves in spring to antler drop in winter. Timings are for North America and vary by region.

Spring
New antlers start
Bumps on the bull's forehead swell and new antlers begin to grow, covered in velvet. Last year's calf is chased off before the new calf is born.⁠[3, 2]
Late May–June
Calves are born
After about 230 days of pregnancy, a cow gives birth to one calf, or often twins where food is good. Each weighs 13–16 kg.⁠[3, 2, 4]
June–July
Salad days
Moose visit salty mineral licks, then wade into lakes for sodium-rich water plants. Water feeding peaks in late June and early July.⁠[13, 12]
Summer
Antler rush
A big bull's antlers grow about 2.5 cm a day. Moose eat up to about 23 kg of food a day and cool off in water on hot days.⁠[2, 3, 5]
Late summer
Velvet off
Antlers reach full size. Bulls rub off the velvet on small trees and brush.⁠[3]
Late Sep–early Oct
The rut
Cows groan, bulls grunt and rival bulls push their antlers together. Bulls barely eat.⁠[2, 3, 15]
Early winter
Antlers drop
Bulls shed their antlers, which helps them save energy for the winter.⁠[3]
Winter
Twig diet
Moose eat only about 4.5–5.5 kg a day, mostly woody twigs, and tramp paths in deep snow as they paw for food. In Norway, cows took in 15–30% less energy by late winter.⁠[3, 9, 20]
March–April
Tick season
Where winter ticks are common, infested moose groom so much that they rub off their winter hair early.⁠[21]

Moose antlers: a new set every year

Moose antlers are bone, not horn. They grow, harden, fall off and grow back every year.

≈36 kg
grown in one summer
A big bull can grow an 80-pound (36 kg) rack in a single summer.⁠[2]
2.5 cm
a day
At top speed, antlers add about 2.5 cm and 0.45 kg of bone a day.⁠[2]
Every year
a brand-new set
Deer are the only mammals that regrow a lost organ, their antlers, every year.⁠[11]
10–12 yrs
age of the biggest antlers
Bulls grow their largest antlers at about 10 to 12 years old, though some reach trophy size at 6.⁠[2, 4]

Moose vs caribou vs elk (wapiti)

Three big northern deer, and the name “elk” means different ones in Europe and North America.

Moose (Eurasian elk) vs caribou (reindeer) vs North American elk (wapiti)
	Moose	Caribou / reindeer	Elk / wapiti
Scientific name⁠[1, 22, 18]	Alces alces	Rangifer tarandus	Cervus canadensis
Other names⁠[1, 4, 22, 18]	Elk (in Europe)	Reindeer (in Europe and Asia)	Elk (in North America), wapiti
Weight⁠[4, 22, 18]	Bulls 542–725 kg	55–318 kg (adults)	Bulls ≈320 kg
Shoulder height⁠[1, 22, 18]	up to 2.3 m	up to 1.2 m	Bulls ≈1.5 m
Who has antlers⁠[1, 22, 18]	Bulls only	Both sexes	Bulls only
Antlers drop⁠[3, 22, 18]	Early winter	Bulls after the rut; cows in spring	March–April
Rut⁠[2, 22, 18]	Late Sep–early Oct	Oct–early Nov	Sep–Oct
Social life⁠[9, 22, 18]	Mostly alone	Groups; a bull guards 5–15 cows in the rut	Herds

Weights and heights come from different regions and sources, so treat them as rough guides.

Moose safety: give moose space

Moose are calm most of the time, but they are huge and will defend themselves and their calves. Watch from far away.

More than bears
injuries in Alaska
In Alaska, more people are injured by moose than by bears each year. Moose get aggressive when harassed by people, dogs or traffic, when hungry and tired in deep snow, or when protecting a calf.⁠[7]
Ears back
means: back away
Hump hairs raised, ears laid back or lip licking mean you are too close. Back away slowly.⁠[7, 5]
Get behind
something solid
Most charges are bluffs, but if a moose charges, get behind a tree, building, fence or car.⁠[7]
Calf alone?
mum is nearby
A calf on its own probably means its mother is close by. Leave the way you came.⁠[7]
Dogs
are seen as enemies
Moose see dogs as enemies. Keep dogs away from moose and never let them chase one.⁠[7]
≈4,500
moose crashes a year in Sweden
On roads, lower speeds, wildlife fences and clearing bushes from roadsides all help, and drivers can watch out where moose live.⁠[23]

Never feed a moose: moose fed by people are more likely to charge, including at children.

Are moose endangered?

Not worldwide: moose live right across the northern forests of North America, Europe and Asia. But some southern populations are shrinking.

IUCN Red List

Least Concern (LC)

Least Concern worldwide. We could not confirm the global trend, so we leave it out.⁠[24, 25]

IUCN Red List, assessment published 2016

Threats

Winter ticks>50%
In New Hampshire and Maine, tick outbreaks killed more than half of 9- to 12-month-old calves in late winter in bad years. Researchers think climate change may be making outbreaks more frequent.⁠[26]
Warmer weather−5 °C
Moose overheat easily: above −5 °C in winter and above 14 °C in summer. Warmer seasons can mean more heat stress.⁠[16]
Roads≈4,500 a year
In Sweden, police record about 4,500 collisions between vehicles and moose each year.⁠[23]
Losing habitat<200
In Yellowstone, fewer than 200 moose remain after 40 years of decline, linked to loss of old forest, fires, hunting outside the park and predators.⁠[3]

What’s helping

Safer roads
Lower speeds, wildlife fences and clearing roadsides can cut moose–vehicle collisions.⁠[23]
Young forests
Fires, floods and logging let young trees and shrubs grow, which can mean more food and more moose.⁠[1, 4]
Counting and care
Wildlife managers track pregnancy, twinning and body condition to set hunting limits.⁠[2, 19]
Long-term studies
On Isle Royale, scientists have followed moose and wolves for decades: the moose population has swung between 500 and 2,400 since 1980.⁠[5]

Moose quiz

12 questions. Every answer is somewhere on this page.

Question 1 of 12Score 0

What is a moose called in Europe?

Moose field notes

Diet, food web, safety and badges from the Snappit field guide.

Diet & Feeding

Moose are plant-eaters that munch on leaves, twigs, bark, and even plants found under the water.

Primary Foods

Willow twigs
Aspen leaves
Birch bark
Water lilies
Pondweed
Shrubs
Foraging Method: Foraging

Ecological connections

Grey WolfEaten by
Main predator, often targeting calves or weak moose.
Black BearEaten by
Occasionally preys on moose calves during spring.
WillowsEats
A main food: moose browse the leaves and twigs of willows and other shrubs.
Quaking AspenEats
Browses on bark and shoots, important winter food.

Safety

Danger 4/5 · High

Very dangerous if provoked — give them plenty of space.

Traits

Collections

Mammals

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Cervidae
Genus: Alces

Sources for these moose facts

26 studies and references · checked Oct 16, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Moose?

Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

How long is Moose?

240-320 cm

How much does Moose weigh?

200-771 kg

How long does Moose live?

15-25 years

What does Moose eat?

Moose are plant-eaters that munch on leaves, twigs, bark, and even plants found under the water.

Where is Moose usually found?

Forests, wetlands, and near lakes.

How many babies does Moose usually have?

1-2

Is a moose the same as an elk?

Yes and no. In Europe, Alces alces is called the elk, and in North America it is called the moose: same animal. But the North American “elk” is a different deer, Cervus canadensis, also called the wapiti.

How big is a moose?

Moose are the largest living deer. They can stand up to about 2.3 m at the shoulder. Prime Alaskan bulls weigh 542–725 kg and cows 364–591 kg.

Can moose swim?

Yes, they are excellent swimmers. They cross rivers and lakes, cool off in water and feed on water plants. In Alaska, moose apparently swim about 10 km across Clarence Strait.

What do moose eat?

Mostly leaves and twigs of willow and other shrubs, plus water plants such as water lilies in summer and woody browse and subalpine fir in winter. In Yellowstone an adult eats up to about 23 kg a day in summer and about 4.5–5.5 kg in winter.

Are moose dangerous?

Moose are not usually aggressive, but they are huge and will defend themselves and their calves. In Alaska, more people are injured by moose than by bears each year. Stay far away, keep dogs back and never feed them. If one charges, get behind a tree, building or car.

Why do moose lose their antlers?

Bulls shed their antlers at the start of winter, which helps them save energy, and grow a new set the next summer, at about 2.5 cm a day.

Do moose have twins?

Often. A cow has one or two calves, born in late May or June. Twins range from under 10% of births in poor habitat to as many as 75% in good habitat, and triplets happen occasionally.

How can drivers avoid hitting a moose?

Drive more slowly where moose live and stay alert. In Sweden, police record about 4,500 moose crashes a year, and a study found that lower speeds, wildlife fences and roadsides cleared of bushes are among the best ways to prevent them.