Facts about Moose in Sweden

Quick answers (for travellers)

What is a moose called in Swedish? Älg.

Where do moose live in Sweden? In forests across most of Sweden (not on Gotland).

How many moose are there in Sweden? Estimates vary by year. Recent national monitoring indicates roughly 250,000 before the hunt in autumn 2023 and about 300,000 before the hunt in autumn 2024 (lower after the hunt).

Are moose dangerous? Yes — moose can be dangerous, especially on roads. Collisions are serious and can be fatal. In the forest, they are usually calm at a distance but can be unpredictable at close range.

Best way to see a moose? Patience, timing, and local knowledge — never guarantees.

Moose vs elk: Scroll down for a simple explanation (with photos).

Meet the moose

The moose (Alces alces) is Sweden’s largest land mammal — quiet, powerful, and surprisingly easy to miss in the forest. Most encounters are brief or from far: a silhouette at the forest edge, browsing in a field, a cow crossing the road.

If you’re travelling through Sweden, don’t expect to see moose everywhere. When you do, it tends to feel like a real wildlife encounter — not a tourist attraction.

At a glance

• Scientific name: Alces alces

• Swedish name: Älg

• Height: 170–210 cm at the shoulder

• Weight: Bulls 380–850 kg, cows 200–360 kg

• Lifespan: Up to 25 years (often shorter due to hunting and accidents)

• Best time to look: Dawn & dusk

• Typical habitats: Mixed forest, wetlands, forest edges

• Most common sign: Tracks, droppings, browsing on young trees

• Key risk: Traffic collisions
  

Identification: what makes a moose a moose?

Moose have long legs, a heavy body, and a large head with a hanging “bell” under the throat. Bulls grow antlers in spring and shed them in winter before regrowing them again.

In many situations, the easiest way to recognise a moose is the shape and height: they move through forest undergrowth that would hide most other deer.

Behaviour: when are moose active?

Moose are mostly solitary. They often move most around early morning and evening, and they can be particularly active during spring and autumn.

Cows may stay with their calves through the first year. Bulls are usually alone outside the breeding season. At a distance, moose often appear calm — but a moose that feels cornered, surprised at close range, or a cow protecting a calf can react quickly.

Diet: what do moose eat?

Moose are herbivores. In summer they feed on leaves, shrubs, twigs, and aquatic plants. In winter they rely more on buds, bark, and pine needles.

This is one reason moose are often linked to wetlands and lakes: aquatic plants can be an important part of their summer diet, and water-rich areas often provide good feeding and cover.

Reproduction: calves and the rut

The rut typically happens in late September to early October. After around 8 months, cows usually give birth to one or two calves in late spring or early summer (three is rare).

Calves stay close to their mother, and the bond is strong — which is why cows can be defensive if they feel their calf is threatened.

Status and population in Sweden

Moose numbers vary by year and region, and estimates can differ depending on method and whether they reflect pre-hunt or post-hunt levels.

In recent years, national estimates have often been in the range of a few hundred thousand moose before the autumn hunt, and lower after the hunt. Local conditions can look very different from one county to another.

Moose management in Sweden is influenced mainly by hunting and traffic mortality, and in some areas also by predation.

Where to see moose in Sweden

Moose are found in forests throughout Sweden, except on the island of Gotland. They are often associated with:

• large forest landscapes in central Sweden

• forest edges near fields and clearings

• wetlands, lakes, and river valleys

Timing usually matters more than place: dawn and dusk beat midday.

How to increase your chances (without disturbing wildlife)

• Look along forest edges, clearings, and quiet roads at dawn/dusk

• Move slowly and keep voices low

• Stop often and scan ahead — moose blend in better than people expect

• Use binoculars rather than trying to get closer

• In winter, tracks can reveal presence even when the animal stays hidden

Local knowledge helps — not to “guarantee” sightings, but to understand where moose tend to feed and move during a given season.

Safety: moose and traffic in Sweden

Moose are a real traffic hazard in Sweden. Collisions can be severe because of the moose’s height and weight, and accidents can be fatal.

Reduce the risk:

• Be extra alert at dawn and dusk

• Slow down on forest roads and in areas with wildlife warning signs

• Watch for movement at the roadside — if you see one moose, there may be more

• In autumn, activity can increase during the rut

• Keep distance if a moose is near the road — don’t honk or try to “push” it away

In the forest: keep a respectful distance, never approach calves, and back away calmly if a moose looks tense or refuses to move.

Moose tours with WildSweden

On a guided tour, you’re not “chasing sightings”. You’re learning to read the landscape: feeding areas, tracks, fresh signs, timing, and the quiet rhythm that makes wildlife encounters more likely.

Browse all wildlife tours

Quick facts recap

• Sweden’s largest land mammal

• Most active at dawn and dusk

• Herbivore: leaves, twigs, aquatic plants

• Calves are born in late spring/early summer

• Population varies by year and region

• Moose are a serious traffic hazard — drive carefully at dusk and dawn

Moose vs elk — what’s the difference?

The confusion comes from English usage.

In Sweden: the animal is älg (Alces alces).
In American English: Alces alces is called moose.
In British English: elk refer to the same species (Alces alces).
In American English, “elk” refers to a different animal: wapiti (Cervus canadensis).

So:

• Swedish älg = American moose = British elk → Alces alces

• American elk = wapiti → Cervus canadensis