The animal known as the moose in North America is found in Europe, confirming its vast circumpolar range across the Northern Hemisphere. Scientifically classified as Alces alces, it is the single largest species in the deer family (Cervidae). They are recognizable by their immense size, long legs, and large, palmate antlers on the males. This creature is a fixture in the boreal and temperate mixed forests of the European continent.
The European Moose Naming Confusion
The question of the moose’s presence in Europe is complicated by a difference in terminology across the Atlantic. What is called a “moose” in North America is generally referred to as an “elk” in Europe, particularly in the United Kingdom and continental Europe. This distinction causes confusion because the term “elk” in North America refers to a different species of deer, Cervus canadensis, also known as the wapiti. The species remains Alces alces regardless of the local name used.
To avoid this ambiguity, scientists rely on the binomial name, which is consistent worldwide. In Scandinavian countries, where the animal is most common, local names like älg (Sweden) and elg (Norway) are cognates of the European English term “elk.” The transatlantic naming split occurred when early British colonists encountered the smaller wapiti in North America and mistakenly applied their familiar European term “elk” to it. This left the name “moose”—derived from an Algonquian word—for the larger species.
Geographic Range and Population Estimates
The European moose population is concentrated in the northern and eastern parts of the continent, primarily in the boreal forests of Fennoscandia and Russia. Scandinavia holds the densest populations. Sweden maintains one of the highest densities globally, estimated at 300,000 to 400,000 individuals. Norway and Finland also support large, well-managed populations, with numbers around 120,000 and over 100,000 animals, respectively. These populations are generally stable due to effective wildlife management.
The range extends eastward into the Baltic States (Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania), where stable populations are found. Poland maintains a fragmented but growing population, often fluctuating due to conservation efforts in protected areas. The largest population is found within the Russian Federation, covering the vast majority of the species’ Eurasian distribution, with estimates suggesting over 730,000 individuals. Smaller, isolated groups exist in Belarus and the Czech Republic.
Physical Characteristics of European Subspecies
The European moose belongs primarily to the subspecies Alces alces alces, commonly known as the Eurasian Elk. Adult males, or bulls, stand between 1.4 and 2.1 meters (4.6 to 6.9 feet) high at the shoulder and typically weigh between 380 and 700 kilograms (838 to 1,543 pounds). They are generally considered slightly smaller and less massive than the largest North American subspecies, such as the Alaskan moose.
A defining characteristic is the shape of the male’s antlers. The antlers of the Eurasian Elk often exhibit a less palmate, or flattened, structure compared to their North American counterparts, sometimes featuring a more branch-like configuration. The antlers of a mature European bull usually span between 1.2 and 1.5 meters (3.9 to 4.9 feet). Further east, the Siberian Moose (Alces alces cameloides) extends into far eastern Russia, with some individuals reaching sizes comparable to the largest North American specimens.