MOOSE

Updated 10/19/26

Meet Glen and Beaker! 

Glen is 2 years old, and Beaker is 5. They may look calm and gentle, but moose are incredibly powerful animals - and they're built for life in Alaska. 

Moose are the largest members of the deer family. Adult males can weigh around 1,300 pounds, while females can reach about 1,100 pounds. They also have surprisingly long legs, which help them move through deep snow and reach vegetation that other deer can't. 

And those long legs have a pretty amazing cold-weather trick! Arteries and veins run close together, allowing warm blood flowing down the legs to help warm the cooler blood returning to the body. It's like having a built-in heat exchange system! 

Beaker has an antler growth disorder, so his antlers don't always develop normally. You may notice that they look uneven, broken, or sometimes almost completely missing. His antlers may look a little different, but we think it's just part of what makes him special! 

Both Glen and Beaker spend much of their day eating. Moose are herbivores and browse on leaves, twigs, grasses, and other green vegetation. They also enjoy the occasional banana as a special treat. 

There's a pond in the back corner of their habitat, and it gives these big animals another way to put their impressive bodies to work. Moose are excellent swimmers and can dive as deep as 20 feet to reach aquatic plants underwater. 

And despite their size, moose can move surprisingly fast. They can run up to about 35 miles per hour! If a wild moose feels threatened, it can defend itself with powerful hooves, and males can also use their antlers. 

Moose typically live around 11 years in the wild, so Glen and Beaker still have plenty of time to explore, eat, swim, and enjoy their favorite treats. 

So next time you spot them, take a closer look. You might catch Glen or Beaker browsing through the vegetation, cooling off in the pond - or maybe enjoying a banana! 

The Alaska Zoo becomes home to many orphaned moose in the spring and summer. Follow us online for all of our orphan care updates.