Cervidae Animals

Adult male moose develop broad palmate antlers used in display and contests during the rut. Caribou antlers are more branching, and females commonly carry them as well as males—an unusual pattern among deer. Sex, age, nutrition, and season all affect antler size and timing.

The distinction matters when identifying the animals. A moose also has a long muzzle, high shoulders, and very long legs. Caribou have a more compact profile, broad hooves, and body proportions suited to long travel over snow and soft tundra.

Moose browse willow, birch, twigs, and aquatic plants. Caribou shift among grasses, sedges, leaves, fungi, and winter lichens. Their broad hooves spread weight on snow and soft ground and can scrape down to buried forage.

Climate, roads, fencing, insects, and industrial development affect each species differently. Caribou migrations depend on connected routes across polar and boreal landscapes, while moose require productive forest browse and relief from heat.