What is the difference between caribou and moose




















Among them are the moose, elk, caribou, and the reindeer. Some find it hard to differentiate one from the other as they all look quite similar. Continue reading this article to ascertain the differences between the moose, elk, caribou, and reindeer.

The moose is the largest deer species in the world. It can easily be identified by its flat, wide antlers and bulky face. Moose can be found in Canada, Alaska and in the coldest regions in Europe. They are browsers, not grazers, and are solitary animals. The elk is among the largest deer species, characterized by tall, sharp antlers, dark shaggy necks and pale rumps.

They live in the mountainous forests in North America and East Asia. Moose have an average lifespan of 20 years and longevity mostly depends on the predator density and the denseness of trees in forests. There are several subspecies of reindeer varying according to the geographical localities that they live. Nevertheless, two major types of them according to the inhabited ecosystem known as Tundra reindeer with six subspecies and Woodland reindeer with three subspecies.

Reindeer is usually a large animal, but it varies considerably, from 90 — kilograms. The height at their shoulders is almost 1. Interestingly, the coat colour varies among subspecies as well as within individuals. However, Northern caribou populations have lighter and Southern populations have darker coats comparatively. Moose are the biggest of the three, weighing as much as pounds. They can grow to be 6. The stately antlers grown by male elk are an elongated shape with many points coming off the large beams.

Male moose have flat, wide antlers that can span six feet from tip to tip. Male caribou shed their antlers in November or December, after mating, while females will often carry them until June. Photo: Lindsay Kaye Ohlert. Caribou have white necks with fur lighter than the rest of their bodies, while the fur on elks necks is darker than the rest of their bodies and shaggy.

Moose have dark brown fur all over their bodies with a bulbous nose and a dewlap hanging from their neck. Specifically a male elk, bugling to attract mates. Moose have more of wail sound and they grunt too. Caribou generally stick to grunting.

The diet of elk changes depending on the time of year. In the summer, their main diet consists of grasses, while in the winter months, it changes to woody growth. Their favorite foods are dandelions, clover, mushrooms, violets, aster, and hawkweed. The diet of caribou and reindeer consists mainly of lichens, mushrooms, tundra plants, twigs, branches, sedges, and fruits. Once the snow has covered the tundra, the caribou feeds primarily on lichen. The moose feeds on leaves and the bark of hard and softwood trees and twigs during the warm months.

During this period, they can also feed on aquatic plants if they can be found in their habitat. In the winter, moose feed primarily on woody plants and the bark of dogwood, birch, and willow trees. Elk can be found all over the world, but the largest wild populations are located in North America, more precisely in the western US and Canada, the Eastern Rockies, New Mexico, and in the northern lower peninsula of Michigan.

Elk prefer woodlands; however, they can also be found in coniferous swamps and forests. They generally prefer to stay clear of very dense forests. They prefer the tundra and biomes where forests of birch, conifers, and poplar dominate. The home range of reindeer can be as big as square miles. There are currently over 3.

Moose will only tolerate areas that have seasonal snow cover since their body has evolved to deal with the cold, and as such, they prefer this type of climate. Moose can be found all across Northern North America and in Northern Eurasia, except for the arctic regions.

They prefer living in forests since they can use the trees for shelter and food.



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