Editing Moose (section)

===History===
[[File:A moose with reflection in Grand Teton NP.jpg|thumb|A moose and its reflection]]
[[File:Collared muddy moose yearlings.jpg|thumb|Two young moose wearing radio tracking collars]]

European [[rock drawings]] and [[cave painting]]s reveal that moose have been hunted since the [[Stone Age]]. Excavations in [[Alby, Öland|Alby, Sweden]], adjacent to the [[Stora Alvaret]] have yielded moose antlers in wooden hut remains from 6000&nbsp;BCE, indicating some of the earliest moose hunting in northern Europe. In northern Scandinavia one can still find remains of [[trapping pit]]s used for hunting moose. These pits, which can be up to {{cvt|4|x|7|m|ft}} in area and {{cvt|2|m|ftin}} deep, would have been camouflaged with branches and leaves.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}} They would have had steep sides lined with planks, making it impossible for the moose to escape once it fell in. The pits are normally found in large groups, crossing the moose's regular paths and stretching over several km. Remains of wooden fences designed to guide the animals toward the pits have been found in bogs and peat. In Norway, an early example of these trapping devices has been dated to around 3700&nbsp;BC.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}} Trapping elk in pits is an extremely effective hunting method. As early as the 16th&nbsp;century the Norwegian government tried to restrict their use; nevertheless, the method was in use until the 19th&nbsp;century.

The earliest recorded description of the moose is in [[Julius Caesar]]'s ''[[Commentarii de Bello Gallico]]'', where it is described thus:

<blockquote>There are also [animals], which are called ''[[alces]]'' (moose). The shape of these, and the varied color of their skins, is much like roes, but in size they surpass them a little and are destitute of horns, and have legs without joints and ligatures; nor do they lie down for the purpose of rest, nor, if they have been thrown down by any accident, can they raise or lift themselves up. Trees serve as beds to them; they lean themselves against them, and thus reclining only slightly, they take their rest; when the huntsmen have discovered from the footsteps of these animals whither they are accustomed to betake themselves, they either undermine all the trees at the roots, or cut into them so far that the upper part of the trees may appear to be left standing. When they have leant upon them, according to their habit, they knock down by their weight the unsupported trees, and fall down themselves along with them.<ref>{{Cite book|publisher = Harper & brothers|last1 = Caesar|first1 = Julius|first2=Aulus|last2=Hirtius|title = Caesar's Commentaries on the Gallic and civil wars|chapter = XXVII|page = 154|year = 1879|isbn = 978-0-217-45287-8}}</ref></blockquote>

In book 8, chapter 16 of [[Pliny the Elder]]'s ''[[Natural History (Pliny)|Natural History]]'' from 77&nbsp;CE, the elk and an animal called achlis, which is presumably the same animal, are described thus:

<blockquote> ... there is, also, the elk, which strongly resembles our steers, except that it is distinguished by the length of the ears and of the neck. There is also the achlis, which is produced in the land of Scandinavia; it has never been seen in this city, although we have had descriptions of it from many persons; it is not unlike the moose, but has no joints in the hind leg. Hence, it never lies down, but reclines against a tree while it sleeps; it can only be taken by previously cutting into the tree, and thus laying a trap for it, as otherwise, it would escape through its swiftness. Its upper lip is so extremely large, for which reason it is obliged to go backwards when grazing; otherwise, by moving onwards, the lip would get doubled up.<ref>{{cite web |title= Pliny the Elder, The Natural History |editor= John Bostock |editor-link= John Bostock (physician) |editor2= Henry Thomas Riley |editor2-link= Henry Thomas Riley |access-date= 2009-11-08 |url= http://old.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Plin.+Nat.+8.16 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20120713100336/http://old.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Plin.+Nat.+8.16 |archive-date= 2012-07-13 }}</ref></blockquote>