Meet the Norwegian moose

The Norwegian forests are home to plenty of wildlife, and the moose is the largest of them all. Find out where you can go on a moose safari and which animal parks to visit to get a kiss from the king of the forest.

Moose in Norway

The moose is a yoke-toed species in the deer family and the world’s largest deer game. It is Norway’s largest land mammal and differs from other deer species in size and appearance. The largest males can weigh up to 800 kilos.

The moose is also a great swimmer, as the locals on the remote island of Træna experienced in 2005. At a distance of 40 kilometres from the mainland, a moose suddenly climbed onto dry land one day in July. The sight was so unusual on the island that they raised a statue of the moose, which they named Tare.

Moose are really made for winter. Even on days with temperatures as low as -30 degrees Celsius, they only react with light goosebumps. In warmer weather, however, the temperature only needs to rise slightly above freezing for the moose to start panting.

Have you ever been to “moose country”, or seen one of the world’s largest moose sculptures? You can do both in Norway!

It’s safe to say that the king of the forest is a special part of our wildlife. Chances are you'll find several items with a moose on them if you visit a souvenir shop. And if you head to the municipality of Stor-Elvdal, you'll get to see one of the world’s largest moose statues.

The silver moose stands tall in the Bjørå rest area along the RV3, about 110 kilometres north of the city of Elverum in Eastern Norway. It was built to keep tired drivers alert and draw attention to the moose living in the area.

The message that Storelgen sends is important to remember whenever you’re driving through areas with lots of moose. Keep an eye out for them, because they haven’t learned to use road crossings yet.

Moose roam freely in several Norwegian forests. Over the years, they have found their favourite hang-out spots. This makes it easier to find them, and when you do: remember to keep a safe distance. If you want to get close enough to pet them, you should visit one of the animal parks that have tame moose.

These are the best ways to secure a memorable moose encounter:

Join a guided moose safari

Local safari guides help you navigate the vast forests and increase your chances of seeing moose in their natural habitat. They also know how to behave in nature and will make sure you’re seeing the animals from a safe distance.

Spot moose under the northern lights in Vesterålen, in the twilight from an electric bike, or kiss a moose at Svartisen Moose in Salten.

Learn more about moose safaris and check out the moose map below.

Come along on a moose safari

Get close to moose in wildlife parks

You can see moose up close at several wildlife parks in Norway. In Bygland in the Setesdal valley, you can stop by Elgtun, a park dedicated to friendly encounters with moose. In Bjørneparken in the Hallingdal valley, just a couple of hours from Oslo, you can kiss tame moose and feed them carrots. The nature park Langedrag, also in Hallingdal, is home to several moose (and lots of other animals).

Other nature parks with moose include the Norwegian moose centre in Stor-Elvdal, Dyreparken Zoo and Amusement Park in Kristiansand, the wildlife park Namsskogan familiepark in Namdalen, and Polar Park in Bardu.

Stay in a 12-metre high tower

Experience the moose tower in Espedalen, and get a spectacular nature experience out of the ordinary! The tower, which rises 12 metres above the ground, sleeps six. Big windows ensure you get close to nature and wildlife.

Visit Elgland ('Moose Land')

Over the course of several weeks each spring and autumn, up to 700 moose migrate between the lowlands west of Mjøsa lake and higher areas in Espedalen, Skåbu, and Murudalen west of the Gudbrandsdalen valley. In contrast to moose migrations in other parts of the world, the moose in Elgland migrate to spend the winter at altitude, before heading back down in the spring.

Although moose spread out in terms of both time and area, they follow exactly the same routes as their ancestors did. For 10,000 years, the animals have faithfully been following this migration route and continue to do so to this day.

Bonus: the taste of the wild

At a junction in Elverum sits Norway’s most famous moose restaurant, Elgstua. It has been serving delicious homemade food since 1959. Besides multiple moose dishes, you’ll find plenty of other lovely food on the menu. You can also sample moose in many other Norwegian restaurants, especially in areas where they are plentiful. Have a taste and see why the flavours of the wild are delicacies!