The moose, A. alces, is the largest member of the deer family in the world. In Europe it inhabits forests in Siberia, Sweden, Norway, and the Baltic region. In North America it is found in wooded areas of Canada and the northern United States. It reaches maximum size in Northern Canada and Alaska, where a bull may stand more than 1.8 m (more than 6 ft) high at the shoulder and weigh more than 520 kg (more than 1400 lb). The males bear enormous, broad, flattened antlers with marginal prongs, or tines. The antlers are shed each year after the mating season, by which time they can attain a spread of 1.5 m (5 ft) or more.

The body colour of the moose varies from almost black to light brown, becoming greyish in winter. The legs are lighter in colour than the body. The protruding muzzle and the long legs enable the animal to browse on brush and to wade into lakes and ponds to feed on aquatic plants. The shoulders of the moose are higher than the hindquarters, giving it a humpbacked appearance that is accentuated by the short neck. In order to reach low-growing plants or to drink from a shallow pool, the moose is forced to kneel. It is an excellent swimmer.

Moose generally are solitary, although they may form into small bands in winter and trample down the snow where good cover exists, making a moose yard where the animals stay while the food lasts. In deep snow a moose is helpless and easily hunted by humans on snowshoes. During the mating season, bulls battle for the cows, and their roars may be heard for great distances. After a gestation of eight months, one to three calves are born; they stay with the mother for two years.

For a time the species was threatened with extinction, both in Europe and North America, because of indiscriminate hunting. Modern game laws and areas set aside for the protection of these animals have helped to save them.

Very few whitetail deer are found north of the English River system, in fact they would be considered somewhat rare, as this is almost the very extreme edge of their range. However, in their place, moose and woodland caribou range freely. In fact, Walsten Outpost locations and McCusker Lake are near a provincial park set aside to protect a large herd of woodland caribou. In the winter, the caribou are often seen on the ice of these area lakes.

Page Last Modified December 30, 1999

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