Found in the boreal forests of nearly every province, the moose is the largest member of the deer family and the tallest land mammal in North America, standing well over two metres at the shoulder. Bulls carry broad, flattened antlers that they shed and regrow each and every year, while their long legs let them stride through deep snow and marsh with ease. A flap of loose skin called a bell hangs beneath the throat. A large bull can weigh more than six hundred kilograms, heavier than any other deer on the continent.
The name "moose" comes from an Algonquian word meaning "twig eater," a fitting label for an animal that strips leaves, bark, and fresh shoots from shrubs. In summer the moose wades far out into ponds and lakes to feed on water plants, and it will push its whole head beneath the surface, holding its breath for many seconds while it grazes the bottom. Despite its bulk it is a strong swimmer, and it must eat a great quantity of vegetation every day to fuel a body of its size.
