The moose is a charismatic animal that inhabits the circumpolar boreal, temperate broadleaf and mixed forests of the northern hemisphere. It is to be found contiguously from Alaska and Canada to Fennoscandia, the Baltic states and east into Russia.
My first sighting of a moose – the largest, tallest and heaviest of the world’s deer – was only a couple of years ago in Estonia. It is referred to as an elk in Europe, but I realised that moose and elk were indeed one and the same species.
Interestingly, there is also another ‘elk’ in North America, but it is the alternative name for the wapiti, a completely different deer species. The moose is the classic large animal of densely forested remote areas, with the largest population densities in Canada and Alaska.
- Moose vs elk – what’s the difference between these enormous deer species?
- Enormous elk are recolonising Europe – and soon they could be heading for the UK
Sadly, hunting coupled with habitat loss has led to population fragmentation which, in turn, has led to increased incidences of urban moose sightings. Nowhere are moose more prevalent in urban areas than in Anchorage, Alaska, where they are a common sight in many parts of the city.
It is estimated that there are upwards of 1,600 individuals living within the state capital, which has a human population of just under 300,000. Understandably, this has occasionally created problems when humans and moose meet in urban localities.
There are several large parkland areas in which people are most likely to see the animals, but it is also not uncommon to see them wandering around in suburban gardens, near busy streets and even in shopping centre car parks.
Unlike other deer species, moose do not form herds and are essentially solitary beasts, aside from when cows are with their calves. They are most active at dawn and dusk, normally being slow-moving and sticking to the same feeding areas.
However, that calmness can change at a drop of a hat if they are startled or angered. Would-be urban moose-watchers are strongly advised to never get too close and to watch for warning signs that an animal is agitated.
The Alaskan moose subspecies is the largest in the world, making it particularly dangerous (though it is said that the moose in Europe are more aggressive).
Regardless, the Anchorage animals are a tourist attraction in the city. The Visit Anchorage website celebrates moose as the city’s favourite four-legged residents, and insists that if you play your cards right, you would be able to see one within the first hour of your visit.
But soberingly, warnings also exist that “a moose with its hackles raised is a thing to fear”. Not all close encounters with moose in Anchorage end in tears, though.
There is a great video on YouTube of a woman about to load the contents of her shopping trolley into the boot of her car. She turns around to see the snout of an enormous moose rootling around in her trolley.
Unwilling to relinquish her hard-earned shopping, she begins to barter with the budding ransacker. The animal isn’t swayed by the tempting offer of sweet potatoes in exchange for the safe return of the rest of the shopper’s fruit and veg, and a standoff ensues.
Things get a little hairy when the moose flicks its ears back, which is a sign of aggression.
But it all ends happily when the animal eventually wanders off to nibble on a bush, allowing the startled shopper to make her getaway.
Read more of David's columns
- Is this the world's biggest owl gathering? During winter nearly 1,000 owls descend onto a tiny Serbian town centre – and at night it's party time
- Thousands of tourists gather on a Texan bridge to watch millions of bats ‘dance’ at dusk each year – here’s why
- “These parrot apartment blocks can be the size of a small car” – and they’re causing chaos in a city near you
- This charismatic woodland creature invaded England’s cities during World War II, and has been creating havoc ever since
- \“They produce 7 tonnes of guano – nightly”: Romans in biohazard suits are facing a relentless rain of oily poop. Here’s what’s going on
Top image: a bull moose crosses Tudor Road after browsing in the Cuddy Family Midtown Park in Anchorage, Alaska, in 2009. Credit: Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty
