Moose are the largest remaining species of the deer family. There are three subspecies of moose found in Canada: shiras moose, Canada moose and Alaska-Yukon moose. These classifications are defined by location and size. The Alaska-Yukon moose is largest subspecies and shiras is the smallest subspecies. Canada moose can be found in BC’s interior, and shiras can be found in the south east corner of BC.                    

                                                A moose’s head is long and horse-like, with a humped nose and overhanging upper lip. Both the males and the females have a large dewlap hanging from the throat.   A moose’s coat is a dark, rich brown-black that fades to a lighter gray on the lower legs. Male moose have impressive antlers that are flat, curved and forked. These antlers take about 3-5 months to develop and will initially be covered in velvet. Male moose shed their antlers after mating season to retain their energy for the fall.