Mac the Moose facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mac the Moose
Mac the Moose in its current location, August 2018
Artist	Don Foulds, Rion White (replacement antlers)
Year	1984 (1984)
Medium	Steel and concrete sculpture
Subject	Moose
Dimensions	10.36 m (34.0 ft)
Weight	10,000 kilograms (22,000 lb)
Location	Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada
Coordinates	ACoordinates: Unknown argument format
Owner	City of Moose Jaw

Mac the Moose is a giant statue of a moose in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada. You can find this amazing sculpture at Moose Jaw's visitor center, right by the Trans-Canada Highway. For a long time, Mac was known as the world's tallest moose! He stands about 10.36 metres (34.0 ft) tall and weighs around 10 long tons (10,000 kg).

Building Mac: A Giant Idea

Mac the Moose was built in 1984. The idea was to create something big and fun to bring more visitors to the city of Moose Jaw.

• Who built him? A talented artist from Saskatoon named Don Foulds created Mac.
• How was he made? First, a strong steel frame was built. Then, metal mesh was added, and finally, four layers of cement covered it all.
• What's in a name? A contest was held to choose a name for the giant moose. The name "Mac" was picked in honor of Les MacKenzie.
• When was he finished? The project was completed in May 1984. Mac quickly became one of Moose Jaw's first big tourist attractions!

Mac's Journey and Fame

Over the years, Mac has had quite a journey and become very famous.

• Moving Day: In 2004, Mac was moved about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) to his current spot near the Trans-Canada Highway. A special flatbed truck was needed for the big move!
• Tough Moose: Mac has faced some challenges, like being painted blue once and getting other minor damage. But he always stands tall! For his safety, a fence was put around him in 2009.
• Local Star: In 2013, the local newspaper, the Moose Jaw Times Herald, even honored Mac as Moose Jaw's "Best Celebrity."

Mac the Moose in 2003, before he was moved and fenced

The Great Moose Rivalry

For many years, Mac the Moose held the title of the world's tallest moose. But then, a new challenger appeared!

• Norway's Elk: In 2015, a new moose statue called The Big Elk was built in Stor-Elvdal, Norway. This new statue was about 30 centimetres (12 in) taller than Mac! (In Europe, moose are often called elk.)
• Moose Jaw's Response: Even though Mac lost his world record, the mayor of Moose Jaw, Deb Higgins, wasn't too worried. She said that Mac's fame had spread all the way to Norway!
• New Title: After that, Mac was known as North America's largest moose, and Tourism Moose Jaw called him the "World's Second Largest Moose."

Mac Fights Back!

The people of Moose Jaw weren't ready to give up the world record easily!

• A Plan to Grow: In January 2019, two Canadian comedians suggested that Moose Jaw should add 31 cm (12 in) to Mac's height. They thought about making his antlers bigger or even giving him a helmet!
• Friendly Competition: The Norwegians heard about this and said they wouldn't give up their record without a fight! News channels from all over the world reported on this fun contest.
• Homegrown Hero: One interesting fact is that Mac was built by Canadians in Canada, making him a truly "native" moose. The Norwegian statue, while designed by a Norwegian artist, was actually built in China to save money.

• Mac Reclaims the Crown: In October 2019, Mac got a brand new set of antlers! These new antlers made him taller than The Big Elk. Mac's height is now 10.36 metres (34.0 ft), making him the world's tallest moose once again!