Moose

Moose — Alces alces

Moose is Sweden’s largest wild land animal. This guide explains key identification features, the seasonal cycle of antlers and basic facts about calves and body size.

What should I know to understand and identify moose in Sweden?

Moose (Alces alces) is Sweden’s largest wild land animal. It is an ungulate with long legs, large ears and a heavy coat; bulls grow antlers that are shed after the mating season. Calves are generally born in May–June.

A cow moose drinking from a lake, with water dripping from its characteristic drooping snout. — Tony Hisgett

Source: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU): Facts about moose · Last verified: 8 September 2026

Body mass, age and other biological measures vary substantially among individuals and populations. The guide uses only broad ranges explicitly stated by SLU.

Sweden’s largest wild land animal

SLU describes moose as Sweden’s largest wild land animal. Adult body mass can vary widely, roughly from 200 to 800 kilograms.

How to recognise a moose

Moose has long pale lower legs, large ears and a heavy coat ranging from grey to grey-brown or black. Bulls grow antlers, whose size and shape vary between individuals.

The antler cycle

Bulls shed their antlers after the mating season, typically during October–November according to SLU. A mature bull can therefore naturally be antlerless during part of the year.

Calves

Calves are generally born in May–June, around eight months after the mating season. This guide covers basic species biology, not hunting or management regulations.