What do moose eat in summer and winter in the taiga?

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Boreal forest in Alaska — Taiga Boreal forest, Alaska, U.S., dominated by spruce trees (*Picea*).

Moose are the largest browsing animals in the taiga, and their diet changes significantly with the seasons to maintain their energy balance.1

Summer Diet: During the summer months, moose consume willow and various broad-leaved trees. They also frequently wade into lakes and ponds to feed on aquatic plants.1
Winter Diet: Throughout the winter, their diet shifts to include large quantities of woody twigs and buds. They rely heavily on high-quality feeding areas, such as the shrub zones along river floodplains and areas of early successional growth in burned or cutover forests.1

While moose do consume some conifers, they prefer broad-leaved trees; intensive browsing can actually alter forest composition by increasing the dominance of the less-preferred coniferous species.1