Sorting it out: Moose, elk and caribou

Moose, elk, caribou – prior to this ride, if one of each walked across the road I would not have been able to tell you for sure which was which. I live in the suburbs - I'm lucky if I see an occasional mule deer. The road signs of Canada helped me to be able to distinguish the antlers, and wikipedia filled in the rest.

Moose road sign

Elk road sign

Caribou sign

1. All the same family

Moose, elk and caribou are all species of the deer family (Cervidae).

2. Critter Names

What you call them depends on where you come from. From Leolupus, a zookeeper, on http://answers.yahoo.com

It depends on where you are in the world. In Europe, “elk” refers to Alces alces, which is known as the “moose” in North America. In North America, “elk” refers to Cervus canadensis, which is called the “wapiti” in Europe. “Reindeer” and “caribou” are the same animal, Rangifer tarandus, but “reindeer” is generally used in Europe whilst “caribou” is used in North America.

3. Antlers

Who has the antlers? Among moose and elk, only the males have antlers. Both female and male caribou have antlers. Leolupus believes the females keep theirs year round to help with digging out lichens (which they eat) from under the deep snow. Moose antlers are called palmate, the elk and caribou antlers are twig-like.

Alces alces (moose/elk)

Cervus canadensis (elk/wapiti)

Rangifer tarandus (caribou / reindeer) [This is the woodland caribou of Newfoundland]

4. Size matters

The moose (Alces alces) is the largest of the deer family, then the elk (Cervus canadensis), then the caribou. The caribou in Newfoundland are called woodland caribou and are the largest of the caribou species.

5. Loners vs. Herds

Caribou / reindeer and elk are herd animals. Moose are loners.

Interesting factoids

• Moose have very long legs to get through very deep snow. Caribou have very wide hooves to 'float' on the surface of the snow.
• Caribou hairs have a 'honey-comb' structure. This traps hot air from the body much better than human hair.

Side note: My cat sitter asked for a t-shirt depicting "moose and squirrel", as in Rocky and Bullwinkle.

I found plenty of moose t-shirts, and some t-shirts with chipmunks somewhere in the scene but nothing with both a moose and a squirrel. Take note, t-shirt marketers of Canada - there is a niche market here!