Minnesota’s diverse ecosystems are home to several large mammals, but only one holds the title of the state’s largest big game species. In Minnesota, the undisputed champion is the Moose (Alces alces). This immense animal is the largest member of the deer family (Cervidae) worldwide and is a signature feature of the state’s northern forests. Understanding the Moose involves appreciating its colossal size, ecological role, and the significant challenges it currently faces.
The Title Holder: Minnesota’s Largest Big Game Species
The Moose’s size is truly what distinguishes it from all other Minnesota wildlife. An adult bull Moose can stand six to six and a half feet tall at the shoulder, a height that easily dwarfs a person. While cows are generally smaller, mature bulls average between 950 and 1,000 pounds, with some large individuals exceeding 1,200 pounds.
A bull Moose’s most impressive feature is its massive, palmate antlers, which are broad and flat. These antlers can span up to five feet across and weigh as much as 40 pounds, shedding each winter and regrowing in the spring. Other distinctive physical identifiers include a pronounced hump over the shoulders and a flap of skin hanging from the throat, known as a dewlap or “bell.” These features, combined with their dark coloration, give the Moose a uniquely bulky appearance.
Life and Habitat of the Minnesota Moose
The Moose is biologically adapted to cold, northern environments, with the state’s boreal forests serving as its primary habitat. They thrive in the spruce-fir swamps, wetlands, and young forests of Minnesota’s northeastern Arrowhead region. Their long legs and wide-splayed hooves allow them to navigate deep snow and the soft, marshy terrain of their preferred environment.
The Moose diet shifts between seasons to accommodate available vegetation. During warmer months, they wade into lakes and ponds to browse on sodium-rich aquatic plants, sometimes diving for submerged growth. In winter, their diet transitions to woody browse, consisting primarily of the twigs, leaves, and bark of trees like willow, aspen, and birch. They must consume around 30 to 40 pounds of vegetation daily to maintain their massive body size.
Population Status and Conservation Efforts
Minnesota’s Moose population has experienced a significant and concerning decline over the past two decades. The state hosts two distinct populations: a small, nearly extirpated population in the Northwest and a larger, more stable one in the Northeast. The northeastern population saw an estimated 60% drop from a peak of nearly 8,840 animals in 2006, stabilizing in recent years to fluctuate around 3,470 to 4,040 individuals.
The species faces multiple threats, including the effects of a warming climate, which causes heat stress and allows parasites to thrive. Warmer, shorter winters increase survival rates for winter ticks, which can swarm a single Moose, causing blood loss and death. Brainworm, a parasite carried by white-tailed deer, is also deadly to Moose, as deer populations expand into Moose range due to milder conditions. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, in partnership with Native American tribes, conducts annual aerial surveys and implements habitat improvement projects.
Distinguishing Moose from Other Large Game
The Moose’s sheer scale makes it easily distinguishable from Minnesota’s other major big game animals, such as the White-tailed Deer, Black Bear, and Elk. White-tailed Deer are substantially smaller, with large bucks rarely weighing more than 150 to 200 pounds. The American Black Bear is the state’s largest carnivore, but adult males typically weigh between 150 and 400 pounds, only occasionally surpassing 600 pounds.
Elk, while large, are significantly smaller than the Moose, with bulls weighing between 700 and 1,100 pounds and standing four to five feet tall at the shoulder. Elk have branching, pointed antlers, contrasting sharply with the Moose’s wide, flat, palmate racks. The Elk’s more streamlined body lacks the Moose’s pronounced shoulder hump and the dewlap hanging from the throat.