Elk, Moose ( Alces alces )

Here’s a full natural history overview of the Elk / Moose (Alces alces), the largest member of the deer family:


Moose / Elk (Alces alces)

Taxonomy & Classification

  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Class: Mammalia
  • Order: Artiodactyla (Even-toed ungulates)
  • Family: Cervidae (Deer)
  • Subfamily: Capreolinae (New World deer)
  • Genus: Alces
  • Species: A. alces
  • Common names: Moose (North America), Elk (Eurasia), Eurasian Elk

General Description

  • Size: The largest living deer species.
    • Height at shoulder: 1.4–2.1 m.
    • Length: 2.4–3.2 m.
    • Weight: 200–700 kg (bulls much heavier than cows).
  • Appearance:
    • Long legs, humped shoulders, and a distinctive overhanging upper lip.
    • Broad, bulbous nose and a “dewlap” (skin flap) called a bell under the throat.
    • Coat: Dark brown to blackish in winter; lighter brown in summer.
  • Antlers:
    • Males (bulls) grow large, broad, palmate antlers (spanning up to 2 m across).
    • Shed annually after the rut and regrown in spring.
    • Females (cows) lack antlers.
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Behavior & Lifestyle

  • Activity: Mostly crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk).
  • Social structure: Solitary; cows with calves are the main exception.
  • Movement: Despite their size, moose are strong swimmers and can run up to 55 km/h over short distances.
  • Communication: Low grunts, bellows (during rut), and scent-marking.

Diet

  • Herbivore (browser):
    • Feeds on twigs, shoots, and leaves of willows, birches, aspens, and other shrubs.
    • Aquatic plants in summer (e.g., pondweed, water lilies)—moose can feed underwater.
  • Seasonal diet:
    • Summer: Leaves, herbs, aquatic vegetation.
    • Winter: Woody browse, especially twigs and bark of deciduous trees.

Life Cycle & Breeding

  • Mating season (rut): September–October.
  • Courtship: Bulls call loudly and fight by locking antlers to establish dominance.
  • Gestation: 230–240 days.
  • Calving: May–June, usually 1 calf (twins common in good feeding years).
  • Calves: Born reddish-brown, stand within hours, stay with mother up to a year.
  • Lifespan: Typically 15–20 years in the wild.
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Habitat

  • Prefers boreal forests, mixed woodlands, wetlands, and river valleys.
  • Requires habitats with abundant shrubs and aquatic vegetation.
  • In winter, moves to sheltered forested areas with less snow depth.

Geographic Range

  • North America: Alaska, Canada, northern United States (Rockies, Great Lakes, New England).
  • Europe & Asia: Scandinavia, Baltic states, Poland, Russia, and across Siberia.
  • Fragmented populations occur further south in mountain ranges.

Ecological Role

  • Browser pressure: Shapes forest regeneration by heavily feeding on young trees.
  • Prey: Adults rarely preyed on (wolves, bears, Siberian tigers may take calves or weakened adults).
  • Cultural role: Important in indigenous traditions, folklore, and hunting.

Conservation Status

  • IUCN Red List: Least Concern.
  • Population trends: Stable globally, though declining in parts of southern range due to habitat loss, climate change, and parasites.
  • Threats:
    • Vehicle collisions.
    • Overhunting (locally).
    • Climate-related parasites (e.g., winter ticks, brainworm).
  • Conservation measures: Regulated hunting, habitat protection, and reintroduction programs.
See also  European robin (Erithacus rubecula)

Interesting Facts

  • Moose are the only deer species adapted to feed extensively on aquatic plants.
  • Their nostrils can close underwater while feeding.
  • They are excellent swimmers—able to cross large lakes and rivers.
  • Despite their size, bulls can be extremely aggressive during the rut.
  • The Eurasian name “Elk” can cause confusion, since in North America “elk” refers to Cervus canadensis (wapiti).

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