Where does the moose live?
The moose, called elk in Eurasia, lives in the boreal forests of the Northern Hemisphere and in temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, thriving in cooler areas as well as subarctic climates. The greatest populations now occur in Canada. Hunting and habitat loss have reduced its range, and this fragmentation has led to sightings of "urban moose" in some areas. It has been reintroduced to some of its former habitats.
What does the moose eat?
The moose is a browsing herbivore: it can eat many types of plants or fruit. Much of its energy comes from terrestrial vegetation, mainly forbs and other non-grasses, and fresh shoots from trees such as willow and birch. As these plants are low in sodium, as much as half of its diet usually consists of aquatic plants, including lilies and pondweed. A typical 360 kg moose can eat up to 32 kg of food per day.
Is the moose endangered?
No: the IUCN lists it as Least Concern. It is the world's largest species of deer, and the second-largest land animal in North America, after the American bison. Adult males have broad, flat antlers shaped like an open hand.
