Moose Fun Facts

Did you know ...

... that Alaska's moose are the largest of their species as well as the largest member of the deer family? Moose weigh between 1,000 and 1,600 pounds and are a celebrated symbol of the Alaskan wilderness. Where all this charisma comes from is anyone's guess. Moose can be irritable and fiercely protective of their young—they've been known to charge people, horses, cars, and even locomotives.

Moose protect themselves from mosquitoes and other biting insects by submerging themselves in shallow ponds. Alaska's human inhabitants have not adopted this technique for escaping bugs, though a few have probably tried it.

While bulls grow majestic antlers up to 70 inches wide, cows have a face only their mothers could love. Moose calves are adorable ... at least for a while.

Learn more about moose from the Alaska Wildlife Notebook Series.