Alaska Moose

The Alaska moose is a subspecies of moose and is the largest deer in the world. It is found in Alaska and Western Yukon Territory. Males can be over 6.9 feet tall at the shoulder and weigh over 1,400 pounds, while females can be over 5.9 feet tall at the shoulder and weigh over 1,050 pounds. The largest Alaska moose on record was shot in Yukon in 1897 and was 7.6 feet tall at the shoulder and weighed 1,808 pounds. By contrast, the Shiras subspecies of moose, found in Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon is the smallest subspecies with males weighing up to 758 pounds. 

Almost everywhere we went in Alaska seemed like moose habitat and there are about 225,000 Alaska moose. I was shocked at how few moose we saw. I thought I would see them everywhere. We only saw wild moose in Denali NP, all within a short distance of each other. We saw a cow moose in heavy vegetation, then a short distance later saw two bull moose on the other side of the road at quite some distance. 

Cow moose in Denali NP.

Bull moose in Denali NP.

I'm not sure if this is the same bull moose, or a different one. There were two in close proximity and I had obscured views on our bus while we were trying to take pictures. 

We did see captive moose at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center just off Turnagain Arm near Girdwood, south of Anchorage, and also at the Yukon Wildlife Preserve outside Whitehorse in Yukon Territory. 

Bull moose at Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. 

A different view of the same moose. 

This cow moose was at the Yukon Wildlife Preserve. They had a really marvelous venue there with a small lake and swamp for the moose, as well as lots of extra ground.