The Alaska Moose is actually the state’s official land mammal and 175,000–200,000 of these hulking critters call The Last Frontier their home.
Interestingly, the Alaska moose are sexually dimorphic, making the males 40% heavier than females. Male Alaska moose can stand over 2.1 m (6.9 ft) at the shoulder, and weigh over 635 kg (1,400 lb). Female Alaska moose, on the other hand, are about 1.8 m (5.9 ft) at the shoulder and can weigh close to 478 kg (1,054 lb). This makes the Alaska moose the largest member of the deer family, are also the largest moose in the world.
It’s not easy maintaining such a physique. Although moose are herbivores, they eat enormous amounts every day. In summer, for example, it will happily munch on 73 pounds of food a day, while in winter it’ll chew on about 34 pounds of scrumptious greens.
“Note the smile on its face as it knocks over this pot. Sociopath.”
“And just like that, the marigold is knocked over and that baby pretends it didn’t have a thing to do with it…”
Rydstrom made the right call by staying inside to photograph the moose family that visited him. Moose are generally not aggressive animals, but they can become incredibly dangerous when provoked. Female moose will not think twice to engage a person if she thinks they’re threatening her young.
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