Moose Evolution & History

The present-day moose is evolved from a primitive version from Asia called Alces latifrons. Alces latifrons lived during the Pleistocene, or until 2 million years ago, and walked to North America across the ice bridge that was between Alaska and Asia during the Ice Age. Now, there are subspecies of moose which still live in Asia, as well as Europe and four subspecies that live in North America.

The Eastern Moose, Alces alces americana, lives in eastern Canada and New England.
The Northwestern Moose, Alces alces andersoni, can be found in northern Michigan, Minnesota, western Ontario, central British Columbia and eastern parts of the Yukon.
The Shiras Moose, Alces alces shirasi, lives in Wyoming, Montana, northern and eastern Idaho, southeastern British Columbia, northern Utah and the Colorado Rockies.
The Alaskan Moose, Alces alces gigas, the largest subspecies of moose, is found in the western parts of the Yukon, northwestern British Columbia and Alaska.

Settlers to North America encountered moose quite frequently from the 1600's on. Moose were a popular food source considering that 700 pounds of meat can be obtained from a single moose. The hides are useful for clothing as well. Moose became very scarce as more settlers arrived since the animals are relatively docile and not difficult to hunt. During the 1800's, state and provincial governments began to protect the moose population and then it began to recover. Moose were introduced to areas where there had never been any moose previously and also reintroduced to some areas of Canada where the population had completely disappeared. The first known moose in the Yellowstone National Park area were discovered in the early 1900's by George Shiras, for whom the subspecies is named.

Now, there are many studies finding that forest fires and logging, when controlled, can be highly beneficial to moose. One of a moose's favorite foods is new green shoots of fresh, young plants and these are the first to grow back after a fire or clear-cut. Wildlife management agencies are using helicopters to ensure the future of this great creature of the world's northern forests.