Moose, the largest members of the deer family, are imposing animals known for their size and distinctive appearance. Adult male moose, called bulls, are recognizable by their broad, palmate antlers, which can span several feet. Weighing over 1,000 pounds and standing tall at the shoulder, they are one of North America’s most recognizable large mammals. They inhabit cooler regions across the Northern Hemisphere, adapting to various forested environments.
States Where Moose Reside
Moose populations are found across the United States, predominantly in northern and western states where suitable habitats exist. Alaska holds the largest population, with estimates ranging from 175,000 to 200,000 individuals. Maine boasts the largest concentration in the continental U.S., with an estimated 40,000 to 70,000 moose found throughout its Western Lakes and Mountains, Kennebec Valley, Maine Highlands, and Aroostook County.
In the Midwest, Minnesota’s moose primarily inhabit the northeastern regions, including the Arrowhead region and areas inland from Lake Superior. The state’s population is around 3,470 to 4,040 moose, indicating stability after past declines. Michigan also supports a moose population, mainly in the western Upper Peninsula, with recent estimates indicating 400 to 500 individuals.
Montana is home to an estimated 9,800 to 11,700 moose, with strongholds in western forested landscapes like the Cabinet-Salish mountains, Big Hole Valley, and Rocky Mountain Front. Idaho and Wyoming maintain established populations, with Idaho estimated at 10,000 moose and Wyoming at 3,500. Utah supports one of the continent’s largest southernmost naturally occurring moose populations, estimated between 2,500 and 3,000, particularly along the Wasatch Front and in northern regions. Washington’s moose population, estimated at 3,000 to 5,000, is concentrated in the Selkirk Mountains and has expanded into areas like the Okanogan, North Cascades, and Blue Mountains.
In the Northeast, Vermont’s moose population is stable, fluctuating between 2,000 and 3,000, primarily found in the Northeast Kingdom and along the Green Mountains. New Hampshire’s population is estimated at 3,000 to 4,000. New York’s moose population, around 550 to 900, is concentrated in the northeastern Adirondack Mountains and Taconic Highlands.
Key Habitat Needs for Moose
Moose exhibit specific habitat preferences that determine their distribution across the United States. They thrive in boreal forests and temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, often seeking areas near wetlands, lakes, rivers, and swamps. These habitats provide essential cover and access to the diverse vegetation that forms their diet. They are drawn to regenerating forest areas disturbed by logging, fire, or beaver activity, as these sites offer new plant growth.
As cold-adapted mammals, moose possess thick skin and a dense, heat-retaining coat, allowing them to tolerate cold temperatures. They are sensitive to heat and often seek refuge in water during warmer periods to cool their bodies and escape biting insects. Their diet is exclusively herbivorous, consisting primarily of browse like leaves, twigs, buds, and bark of woody plants.
Preferred food sources include willow, aspen, birch, maple, pine cherry, mountain ash, and balsam fir. During summer, a large adult moose can consume 40 to 60 pounds of forage daily, supplementing their diet with aquatic plants like pond lilies and duckweed, which are rich in sodium. In winter, their diet shifts to twigs and shrubs. Access to diverse food sources and suitable thermal cover influences moose survival and population health.