Short answer
The moose (called elk in British English, älg in Swedish) is Sweden's largest animal and is often called the king of the forest, because the bulls' antlers form a crown. It lives all over Sweden except on the island of Gotland, and around 300,000 moose lived in Sweden at the start of the 2024 hunting season, according to SLU. The yellow moose warning sign is almost as famous as the animal. In southern and central Sweden the moose hunt starts on 8 October. In Gothenburg you can see moose at the free Slottsskogen zoo.
Why the moose?
The moose is the largest living deer in the world and the largest animal in Sweden. The City of Gothenburg writes that it is often called the king of the forest (skogens konung), a fitting name since the bulls' antlers form a crown. WWF Sweden describes the moose as a symbol of the Swedish forest, and it is the provincial animal of Jämtland.
It also lives almost everywhere. The moose is found all over Sweden except on Gotland, and sometimes it stands right by the road. A huge, slightly clumsy and rather friendly-looking animal living in the forest just outside town: no wonder it ended up on everything from postcards to socks.
A note on words: in North America the animal is a moose, while in British English it is usually called an elk. Swedes say älg.
The moose in numbers
| Fact | Figure |
|---|---|
| Weight, Swedish moose | 200–550 kg |
| Shoulder height | up to 200 cm |
| Food per day in summer | up to 30 kg |
| Piles of droppings per day | around 15 |
| Calves | 1–3, born in May–June |
| Lifespan | up to 25 years |
| Moose in Sweden at the start of the 2024 hunt | about 300,000 |
Only the bulls have antlers. They shed them after the mating season and grow new ones for the next year. Moose usually live alone, but a cow often walks together with her calves.
The population has gone up and down. By the late 1800s the moose was almost wiped out in Sweden after heavy hunting. Later the population grew quickly and reached record levels in the late 1900s. After 2012 it declined for ten years, but according to SLU, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, it is growing again: about 300,000 moose at the start of the hunt in autumn 2024, of which just under 57,000 were shot. At the same time, since March 2026 the moose has been listed as near threatened on the Swedish Red List because of the long decline.
The moose hunt: a season of its own
The Swedish Hunters' Association has called the opening day the hunters' Christmas Eve. Since 2021 the moose hunt in southern and central Sweden has started on a fixed date, 8 October, every year. In Västra Götaland, the county around Gothenburg, the season runs from 8 October 2026 to 31 January 2027, according to the county administrative board. During those weeks there may be hunters in the forests, so it is a good idea to stay on paths and trails.
The yellow warning sign
The triangular sign with a red border, a yellow background and a black moose in the middle is almost as famous as the animal. Swedish warning signs have a yellow background, unlike the white used in many other European countries. The sign is put up where there is a particular risk of moose on the road, and similar moose signs are also used in Finland, Norway and Estonia.
It is there for a reason. A moose is so big and long-legged that hitting one can be very serious.
The sign is also popular in a way the Swedish Transport Administration does not appreciate. According to Swedish public broadcaster SVT, moose signs are sometimes stolen, probably as souvenirs, and some signs are now made of plastic instead of metal. A missing sign warns no one, so leave it where it is and take a moose home from a shop instead.
Where to see a moose near Gothenburg
The easiest way is Slottsskogen zoo (Slottsskogens djurpark), right in the city. The zoo is owned by the City of Gothenburg, open all year and free to visit. It keeps several Nordic species, including moose, forest reindeer and harbour seals.
Seeing a wild moose takes patience. They live in the forests around Gothenburg, as in the rest of Sweden except Gotland, but you are most likely to spot one at dawn or dusk.
Moose souvenirs on Kungsgatan
At Kungs Gotter, Kungsgatan 26, the moose is a given. We have moose as figurines, as soft toys and on bottles, plus socks with moose on them. Next to them you will find Dala horses, fridge magnets with Swedish motifs, mugs and much more. See our souvenirs. Souvenirs are sold in the shop only, on the pedestrian street between the cathedral and Kungsportsplatsen.
Want to chat with the locals while you shop? Read our guide to the Gothenburg dialect.
Sources
- City of Gothenburg, Slottsskogen zoo: Moose (in Swedish)
- SLU: Moose population development, hunting year 2024/25 (in Swedish, English abstract)
- SLU: New Red List for Sweden, 2026 (in Swedish)
- County Administrative Board of Västra Götaland: Moose hunting (in Swedish)
- Swedish Hunters' Association: New date for the hunters' Christmas Eve, 2021 (in Swedish)
- WWF Sweden: Moose (in Swedish)
- SVT Värmland: Coveted moose signs stolen, 2017 (in Swedish)
- Wikipedia: Warning signs (in Swedish)