Moose are large ungulates (hoofed mammals) identified by their long, rounded snouts; huge, flattened antlers; humped back; thin legs; and massive bodies. These animals live in the northern United States, Canada and Europe. In North America, they are called moose; in Europe, they are called Eurasian elk.

Vertebrates make up about 2% of the animal species on the planet and include more than 30,000 species. They include the animals that are most familar to us, such as horses, dogs, bears, fish, moose, koala bears, reindeer, humans, and more. They all have one thing in common: they all have backbones.

Phylum Chordata. Subphylum Vertebrata (animals with backbones) Class Mammalia (warm-blooded animals with hair and mammary glands)

Aggression. Moose are not usually aggressive towards humans, but can be provoked or frightened to behave with aggression. In terms of raw numbers, they attack more people than bears and wolves combined, but usually with only minor consequences.

The word “moose” is an Algonquin term meaning “eater of twigs.” Moose are so tall that they have difficulty bending down to eat grasses, so they prefer to feed on leaves, bark, and twigs from trees and shrubs. Their favorite foods come from native willow, aspen, and balsam fir trees.

While it’s true that moose typically aren’t aggressive towards people, if provoked, they can be deadly. But like most other animals, moose will defend their young and their territory if they feel threatened. And even though they look slow and bored, they can run up to 30 mph, so you’re not likely to outrun a moose.

Moose outnumber bears nearly three to one in Alaska, wounding around five to 10 people in the state annually. That’s more than grizzly bear and black bear attacks combined [source: Smith].