The moose is the largest member of the deer family, and the largest kind of moose lives in Alaska.  A moose has big shoulders that form a hump.  It's long legs and broad hoofs make the moose a strong swimmer and help it to walk in marshy areas and through deep snow.
 

       Moose  fur is brownish black on the upper areas and grayish brown on the belly. Most moose stand 6  1/2 feet tall, and weigh 800 to 1000 lbs.  The male moose, called the bull has antlers.  Moose antlers are shaped like the palm of a hand, with many short, pointed fingers.  Bulls shed their antlers every winter,  and then begin to grow new ones, the following spring. Usually, a pair of antlers may measure 5-6 feet.

      Mating for a moose last about a few weeks.  A bull will roam about in search of a female called a cow.  If a bull finds another bull with a cow, the bulls fight with their antlers to see which one will mate with her.
 

         Moose eat woody plants, most like twigs  which is their favorite. They eat different types of shrubs including, dogwood, hazel, and mountain maple.  Moose also enjoy eating plants that grow under the surface of shallow water.  They wade in streams and ponds, by putting their heads underwater.
         Moose usually live alone and do not form herds as the North American elk and caribou do.  If the food is plentiful in one spot  there will usually be a group of moose who will stay their.
 

            Before  Europeans came to North America, the moose was a  important source of food for Indians. Settlers hunted moose until the animals became scarce in some areas. They also cut down most of the forests where moose lived, which was taking away the moose environment. Restrictions  were placed on moose hunting in many areas.  Today moose have become numerous enough to allow moose hunting everywhere.
 

              - Moose can swim very well.

              - Their eyesight isn't the best, but they have a very good sense of smell.

                - The moose enemies are bears and wolves.

              - A moose does not begin to suffer from old age until it is about 12 years
                   of age or more.