Elk or Moose?
Confusingly in Europe we call this species (Alces alces) Elk. But in America, Elk is the name of a completely different species which is their form of Red Deer (Cervus elaphus or canadensis).
Moose has long been considered to be a single species that occurs in North America, Europe and northern Asia. However recent field guides have split the North American form and called it Alces americanus).
I photographed this young male in Sweden. You can see the stubs of his antlers which start growing in early spring so they are ready for the autumn mating season, but then they are shed before winter. Each year the antlers will grow a little larger so old males will have larger antlers. He dashed across the road in front of us but paused when he thought he was hidden by trees, but there was a small window in the foliage through which I photographed him.
Elk or Moose?
Confusingly in Europe we call this species (Alces alces) Elk. But in America, Elk is the name of a completely different species which is their form of Red Deer (Cervus elaphus or canadensis).
Moose has long been considered to be a single species that occurs in North America, Europe and northern Asia. However recent field guides have split the North American form and called it Alces americanus).
I photographed this young male in Sweden. You can see the stubs of his antlers which start growing in early spring so they are ready for the autumn mating season, but then they are shed before winter. Each year the antlers will grow a little larger so old males will have larger antlers. He dashed across the road in front of us but paused when he thought he was hidden by trees, but there was a small window in the foliage through which I photographed him.