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moose, in North America, or elk in Europe, Alces alces, largest member of the deer family (Cervidae; order Artiodactyla). Moose are heavy, long-legged, short-necked ruminants, standing 1.5—2 metres (5—63” feet) tall at the shoulder and weighing to about 820 kilograms (1,800 pounds). The back slopes downward to the hips, the tail is short, and the muzzle is somewhat inflated and pendulous. A fleshy dewlap (the bell) hangs from the throat. The brown coat is coarse and shaggy, becoming grizzled with age. The enormous antlers in the males (bulls) are characteristically palmate with projecting tines.
Moose occur in the northern parts of North America and Eurasia. They prefer being near water and often wade into forest-edged lakes and streams to feed on submerged aquatic plants. They also eat a variety of grasses, herbs, and bark. Usually solitary, moose in North America often assemble in small bands in winter and tramp the snow firm in a small area to form a “moose yard.
Their normal gait is a stiff-legged, shuffling walk that enables them to cover ground with surprising speed. They sometimes trot but seldom run. Moose are usually shy, but they tend to be unpredictable and belligerent. They breed in autumn, the male then fighting fiercely for the female’s favour. One to three ungainly young are born after gestation of about eight months. The female cares for the calf until the birth of another is imminent.
Moose generally are hunted both for trophies—their huge antlers and head—as well as for their flesh, which is beeflike but somewhat dry and with strong-tasting fat. The pressure of hunting substantially reduced the numbers of moose and virtually eliminated them from the southern parts of their range, especially in the United States. They are now generally protected by law, both in North America and in Europe.
