Moose do inhabit California, but their presence is a very recent development in the state’s natural history. They are not an established, widespread species across California. A small, persistent population has successfully re-established a foothold in the far northeastern corner. This marks an ongoing shift in the state’s wildlife distribution, driven entirely by the animals themselves.
Current Status of California Moose
The population of moose in California is extremely rare, having been absent for perhaps a century or more. The animals found within the state belong to the Shiras moose subspecies, Alces alces shirasi. This is the smallest North American subspecies, typically weighing between 600 and 1,200 pounds and standing up to 6.5 feet at the shoulder.
Moose sightings began to increase consistently within the last decade, particularly in the Modoc County area. State wildlife officials have confirmed the presence of a small, breeding population. The state views these animals as a protected, naturally occurring population.
This population utilizes suitable, isolated habitats at the extreme southern edge of their range. They are protected from hunting to ensure the small herd can grow, reflecting the state’s recognition of this unique wildlife event.
Geographic Range and Preferred Habitat
The Shiras moose population is concentrated almost exclusively in the Modoc Plateau region of California, a high-elevation volcanic tableland in the extreme northeast. This area borders Oregon and Nevada and is ecologically distinct from the majority of the state. The plateau ranges from 4,000 to 6,000 feet in elevation and features cold winters and hot, dry summers.
Moose survival depends on access to specific environmental features that provide relief from heat. They rely heavily on riparian zones—lush areas along streams, rivers, and marshes. These wet areas provide the aquatic vegetation and shade necessary for the moose to regulate body temperature during warmer months.
Their diet consists mainly of woody browse, such as willow, aspen, and aquatic plants found in these limited wet habitats. The Modoc National Forest supplies the specific mix of water, high-elevation cover, and preferred forage. The animals are not found in the Sierra Nevada or other mountain ranges further south due to unsuitable habitat and excessive heat exposure.
Migration and Population Origins
The moose currently residing in California are not the result of reintroduction efforts but represent a natural range expansion from neighboring states. This expansion is driven by thriving Shiras moose populations in Idaho, Utah, and Nevada. As populations in these source states increase and exceed the carrying capacity of their home territories, individual moose naturally disperse to seek new habitat.
This dispersal pushes the species’ boundary slowly southward and westward into areas like the Modoc Plateau. Nevada, which shares a border with the Modoc region, has recently seen its own moose population swell to over 100 animals, having migrated from Idaho and Utah. The California population is the next step in this slow, self-directed movement, where pioneering individuals find suitable, isolated pockets of habitat.
The animals follow necessary corridors of water and high-elevation terrain, crossing state lines and pushing the species’ southern range boundary further than previously documented. This migration mechanism is responsible for the moose’s recent re-establishment in the state.