The moose is the largest member of the deer family. A mature bull, or male moose, can reach two meters in height at the shoulder

 

 

The moose is the largest member of the deer family. A mature bull, or male moose, can reach two meters in height at the shoulder

 

the same height as some professional basketball players. Moose have large, muscular bodies, but their legs are long and thin, which helps them walk through deep snow in winter and wade through ponds and lakes.

 

Moose live along the edges of lakes and streams in almost every region of Canada.#

Moose have antlers that can be up to 6 feet wide. These antlers are made of bone, and while they originate from protrusions on the moose's head called pedicles, the actual growth occurs at the tip, not the base. This contrasts with animals in the Bovidae family, such as cows, buffalo, sheep, antelopes, and goats, whose antlers grow continuously.

 

Mooses shed their antlers annually during the winter. While cows, sheep, and goats retain and grow their antlers, which are made of bone and keratin, deer, including the largest member of the family, the moose, shed their antlers, which are not fused to their skulls. Shedding these massive structures frees up to 27 kg of weight, allowing them to store more energy for the winter. Moose habitats are the cold, northern climates of North America, Europe, and Asia.