More About Moose

The moose (so named in North America) or elk (in Europe), Alces alces, is the largest member of the deer family Cervidae, distinguished from the others by the palmate antlers of its males. Moose eat saplings and shrubs, and the name moose is from mus or mooz (‘twig eater’) in several of the Algonquian languages, spoken by certain indigenous peoples of the Americas.

Minnesota's Moose Mystery from U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service/Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources

During the last 25 years, moose numbers have declined throughout northwestern Minnesota. In 1995, state and federal wildlife managers began to take a closer look at the dynamics of these moose populations. The Moose Mystery Challenge study covers a large study area and uses a number of research methods to answer the question of northwest Minnesota's declining moose herds.

NatureWorks from New Hampshire Public Television

Discover the natural world and the connections that make nature work in this 16-part series for students in grades 3-6. Student host Patrice Forrester and Senior Naturalist Dave Erler of the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, explore the ways living things interact with the environment. NatureWorks is designed to align with state and national science frameworks and standards and is a great way to introduce young people to the natural sciences.

The Wolves and Moose of Isle Royale National Park, MI, USA from University of Michigan

Isle Royale is a beautiful island in Lake Superior, twenty-five kilometers off the coast of Ontario, Canada. It is approximately five hundred forty four square kilometers, and features hundreds of miles trails (National Park Service 2006). Because it is so isolated from the mainland, very few species have colonized the island relative to the number of species on the mainland; only about 16 mammalian species are present (DelGiudice et al. 1997). Moose have been on the island since about 1900, and wolves colonized it after Lake Superior froze over and formed an ice bridge in the late 1940s.

Living in Harmony with Moose from Kachemak Heritage Land Trust in Homer, Alaska

Living in Harmony with Moose is a project of the Kachemak Heritage Land Trust in Homer, Alaska. It is designed to help people co-exist with moose in Alaska. The idea came from a similar publication called Living with Mule Deer in the Methow Valley, in northeastern Washington. We are indebted to its authors.

What To Do About Aggressive Moose from the Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game

Moose are not normally aggressive; however, they can be very aggressive in winter when they are hungry; tired of walking in deep snow; or harassed by people, dogs, and traffic. Kids and adults sometimes throw snowballs at moose or approach them far too closely for safety. Dogs chase moose out of backyards, and loose dogs bark at them and chase them. Moose consider dogs to be their enemies and will sometimes go out of their way to kick at one, even if the dog is on a leash or in a fenced yard. Give moose an extremely wide berth if you have a dog with you and don't let your dog chase a moose.