Awesome Antlers: Moose, known in Europe as elk, are the largest members of the deer family. They also have the largest antlers. Found only on males — which use them to fight each other during mating season — these uniquely shaped antlers may measure as much as 6 feet across and weigh up to 70 pounds.
Season to Season: Adult moose shed their antlers after the mating season in order to conserve energy, then regrow them in spring. It takes about three to five months to grow a full set of antlers, making them among the fastest growing animal parts. The growing antlers are covered in a layer of skin called felt, which pumps blood to the developing organs. The felt is shed when the antlers have reached their full size.
Typically Solitary: Moose are typically solitary, except when harems form during mating season from September to October. The strongest bonds are typically between a mother and her young.
The Twig-Eater: A ruminant with a four-chambered stomach, the moose feeds on twigs, bark, fresh leaves and young shoots of trees, as well as aquatic plants. The Algonkian name for the animal, "mooswa" — from which the English word "moose" was derived — means "twig-eater" or "the animal that strips bark off of trees."
