Standing or swimming in lakes and ponds, they feed on many kinds of aquatic plants. Moose are retiring animals and generally avoid human contact. However, they can be unpredictable and dangerous. Cows with their calves are irritable and fiercely protective. Rutting bulls have been known to charge people, horses, or even a car.
Males are much larger than females.
Moose stand 5 to 6.5 feet tall at the shoulder and are 7.5 to 10 feet in length. They have a short tail, 2.5 to 3.5 inches. Moose are easy to recognize by their large size, long dark to reddish brown to black color hair, high humped shoulders, long pale legs, and a huge, pendulous muzzle. Moose have a large dewlap, called by some a pendant 'bell', under their throat, and large ears. A moose eats an average of 44 pounds of wet forage a day, but this amount increases to near 60 pounds in the spring, and a whopping 130 pounds daily in the autumn.