1. They are the undisputed giants of the deer family. Moose are the largest species of deer on Earth! A full-grown male (called a bull) can stand up to 7 feet (2.1 meters) tall at the shoulder—taller than most professional basketball players—and weigh over 1,400 pounds (635 kg).

2. Their antlers grow faster than almost any other bone. Male moose grow huge, fan-shaped antlers every spring and summer. They can grow up to nearly an inch a day, stretching over 6 feet (1.8 meters) from tip to tip, before shedding them every winter to save energy!

3. They are expert deep-water divers. Moose love eating aquatic plants like water lilies! They can dive up to 20 feet (6 meters) underwater to munch on lake-bottom greenery, and they can even close their nostrils like a valve to keep water out while diving.

4. Calves can outrun a human at just a few days old. A baby moose (called a calf) is born around May or June. Within just a few days of being born, a calf can already walk and outrun a human! By the time it is a few weeks old, it can swim for miles right alongside its mom.

5. Their name means "twig-eater." The word "moose" comes from an Indigenous Algonquian word (moosu or muns), which translates to "eater of twigs." Because they are herbivores, an adult moose gobbles up around 50 to 70 pounds of leaves, bark, and twigs every single day!

6. North America calls them "moose," but Europe calls them "elk." If you visit Europe or Asia, people call the exact same animal an elk! In North America, early European settlers got confused and used the word "elk" for a different member of the deer family (wapiti), keeping "moose" for this gentle giant.

7. They can run as fast as a racehorse. Despite their awkward, gangly legs, moose are surprisingly fast land runners. They can sprint at speeds up to 35 miles per hour (56 km/h) to escape predators like wolves or bears!