Moose — facts for kids
Alces alces
The moose is the largest animal in the forest — the king of Sweden. It walks the forest edges around Sundsvall eating leaves, twigs and water plants. Most often it moves at dawn and dusk, quiet for something so big.
Field notes
How big?
Taller than a door at the shoulder
How heavy?
Like a small car
What does it eat?
Leaves, twigs, shrubs and water plants
When can you see it?
At dawn and dusk
How big is it?
Moose is about 2 metres tall at the shoulder.
Look for this
Big split hoof prints, twigs bitten off at head height, and beds in the moss where it has slept.
How it sounds
Mostly silent. In autumn you can hear a deep, mournful oooooh from the bull.
Fun to know
- The bull moose drops its antlers every winter and grows new ones in spring.
- It can dive several metres down to eat plants on the lake bed.
- A moose calf can walk the same day it is born.
Questions kids ask about the moose
Vad äter du?
Blad, kvistar och ris. På sommaren dyker jag efter växter i sjön.
Hur stor är du?
Två meter hög vid axeln. Jag är det största djuret i hela skogen.
Får jag komma nära?
Nej, håll avstånd. Jag vill vara ifred — backa lugnt, spring inte.
Meet the moose for real
At places across Sundsvall, Sweden, the animals stand in their real spots. Come within ten metres and the moose comes alive in the phone and answers children's questions. The trail is in Swedish.