The largest species (scientific name: ‘Alces alces’) of the deer family, the Moose can be found throughout Sweden (except on Gotland and the outer islands) but they are not easy to spot. The best chance of spotting them is from a car window, and encountering a Moose while walking through a forest is much more impressive. Its height varies from 170 – 210 cm (at shoulder) and its weight can be 200 – 360 kg in females, and 380 – 850 kg in males. Moose’s diet includes both terrestrial and aquatic vegetation and unlike most other deer species, they do not form herds: during their first year, the calves stay with their cow, but after the first year they are solitary animals. In order to have more chances to see Moose in the wild one can try the following strategies: drive around open areas because, during the summer, Moose venture out into open areas such as fields and meadows in search of food, especially during the evening. If you prefer hiking, remember to walk in silence to avoid scaring them away, and also be prepared to walk for several days before you spot one. Moose that live close to villages and towns are used to people and therefore are less shy: you do not have to venture deep into the forest to spot them. Last: you can always join a guided ‘Moose Safari’, led by experienced guides, if you want to be sure that you one. Moose population in Sweden is estimated to be 300,000–400,000 during summer, of which around 80,000 are hunted each Autumn. The lifespan of Moose is between 12 – 25 years, but most are shot at early age. Moose’s natural predators are man (both by hunting and due to traffic accidents casualties), wolf, brown bear.
Read more on Wildsweden.com
