deer

Members of the deer family live in a wide variety of places, including forests, swamps, deserts, and tundra. They feed exclusively on such plant materials as grass, young shoots, twigs, and bark. Some deer travel in herds and go on seasonal migrations. Deer are extremely cautious animals with keen senses of smell and hearing. Most deer reach maturity in one to three years, and the female gives birth to one or two young or, occasionally, to triplets.

The largest member of the deer family is the moose (Alces alces), called elk in Europe. The bull, or male, stands as high as 7.7 feet at the shoulder and may weigh more than 1,800 pounds. The cow, or female, is about three fourths the size of the bull. The color of moose ranges from black to brown. Moose occur across Canada from New England to Alaska and extend down into Wyoming. They also are found from northern Europe to Mongolia.

The bull moose has a large head with a broad muzzle that curves downward. Beneath his neck hangs a hairy fold of skin called a bell. The antlers of a moose are flattened and may spread 6.6 feet across. The antlers are shed in winter, sprout again in spring, and reach full size by early summer. In late spring the cow gives birth to one or two calves that stay with her until the following spring.

Moose occur in forested areas, particularly near water. They feed on willow tips, saplings, and bark. They wade along the shores and thrust their heads under water for mouthfuls of tender plants that grow on the bottom. Moose swim very well.