Moose are undeniably massive creatures, icons of the northern wilderness. You might have heard they’re big, but grasping just how big a full-size moose is, especially compared to a human, can be truly eye-opening. While an Alaskan bull moose might be described as heavier than ten kegs of beer, a telephone pole, or even a smart car, and as tall as a front door or an NBA player, these comparisons, while illustrative, still might not fully convey their imposing stature when placed next to a person.
There are four main subspecies of moose roaming North America: Alaska, Northwestern, Eastern, and Shiras moose, each varying slightly in size. However, even the smallest of these subspecies are significantly larger than most other animals in their habitat, and certainly dwarf the average human. This sheer size is a key factor in why hunters targeting moose often rely on powerful cartridges specifically designed for moose hunting. In fact, moose hold the title of the largest deer species globally, further emphasizing their impressive dimensions.
Within North America, the Shiras moose represents the smaller end of the scale, with bulls reaching up to 1,200 pounds and standing about 6 feet tall at the shoulder. On the other end, the Alaska moose, also known as the Yukon moose in Canada, can weigh around 1,600 pounds and tower nearly 7 feet tall. Record-breaking Alaska moose taken by hunters have even surpassed 1,800 pounds, with the heaviest recorded in 1897 weighing a staggering 1,808 pounds and standing 7.6 feet tall, as documented by the Guinness Book of World Records. To truly understand the scale, let’s delve into a detailed comparison of moose subspecies and then directly compare moose size to humans.
Moose Size Comparison by Subspecies
Moose inhabit the colder, northern climates across the globe, and in North America, all four subspecies are huntable. Their territories extend from the northeastern regions to the Rocky Mountains and northward across Canada and Alaska. While Europe also has moose subspecies often referred to as “elk,” this discussion will focus solely on the North American moose.
1) Alaska Moose (Alces alces gigas)
The Alaska moose, the world’s largest moose subspecies, pictured in Denali National Park.
The Alaska moose, or Yukon moose, truly lives up to its nickname “giant moose.” Found in the boreal and mixed deciduous forests of Alaska and the Western Yukon, these moose thrive on a diet of forbs, willow, and birch shoots. Mature bulls typically stand just under 7 feet at the shoulder and weigh between a hefty 1,200 to 1,600 pounds. Females are also substantial, often exceeding 1,000 pounds.
Beyond their body size, Alaska moose boast incredibly impressive antlers. The largest bull recorded by Safari Club International (SCI), taken by Debra Card in 1999 near Cordova, Alaska, weighed an astounding 1,800 pounds – nearly the weight of two grand pianos. Its antlers had a 74 2/8-inch spread, 39 points, and an SCI score of 731 ⅛ inches. To put this antler size in perspective, a typical whitetail deer doe is around 71 inches long, meaning one could fit comfortably within the span of this moose’s antlers!
The Boone & Crockett (B&C) record for Alaska moose belongs to a bull shot in 2010 by Rex J. Nick along the Lower Yukon River in Alaska. This bull, scoring 266-4/8 inches B&C, was taken with a 300 Win Mag and only narrowly surpassed the previous record by a mere 2-7/8 points.
2) Northwestern Moose (Alces alces andersoni)
A Northwestern moose bull in Tobin Harbor, Isle Royale, Michigan, demonstrating the subspecies’ impressive size.
The Northwestern moose, also known as the Western moose, inhabits the boreal forests of western Canada and extends into parts of Minnesota, Michigan, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. They have even been introduced to New Zealand. As the second-largest moose subspecies in North America, they are only slightly smaller than their Alaskan cousins. Northwestern moose can reach heights of over 6½ feet at the shoulder and weigh close to 1,600 pounds. These massive herbivores require approximately 10,000 calories daily, consuming around 70 pounds of vegetation to sustain their size.
The SCI record for the largest Northwestern moose was set in 1998 by Doug Rehbein in the Cassiar Mountains of British Columbia. This bull scored 557 inches with a 64-2/8-inch antler spread, remarkably with only 12 points on one antler and 10 on the other.
3) Eastern Moose (Alces alces americana)
An Eastern moose in Baxter State Park, Maine, illustrating the typical size of this subspecies.
Eastern moose are prevalent across Maine, New York, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Nova Scotia, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland. Large Eastern bull moose can weigh up to 1,400 pounds and stand 6 feet tall at the shoulder. Hunting Eastern moose in the continental U.S. requires tags obtained through a lottery system, often with challenging odds. However, for hunters seeking over-the-counter tags, Newfoundland and other areas of eastern Canada offer more accessible opportunities.
Jeremy Boileau harvested the largest Eastern moose recorded by SCI in 2011. This enormous bull scored 666 3/8 inches and displayed 20 points on each antler. Taken with a rifle in Quebec, Canada, this moose surpassed the next largest Eastern moose by an impressive 175 inches.
4) Shiras Moose (Alces alces shirasi)
Shiras moose, the smallest North American subspecies, pictured in Wyoming.
Shiras moose inhabit the southernmost moose range in North America, residing in the Rocky Mountains of the western U.S. and Canada. While they are the smallest of the North American moose subspecies, they are by no means small animals. Shiras bulls can still reach weights of up to 1,200 pounds and stand 6 feet tall at the shoulder.
The SCI record for the largest Shiras moose was established by Jim Hall in Washington in 2018. This bull, weighing between 650 and 700 pounds, scored 504 7/8 inches. The B&C record Shiras moose was taken by John M. Oakley in 1952 at Green River Lake, Wyoming, scoring 205 4/8 points using a .270 rifle.
Moose vs. Human Size Comparison: A Stark Contrast
To truly grasp the size of a full-grown moose, especially compared to a human, consider these points:
Height and Weight Disparity
When comparing the height of moose to humans, the contrast is striking. While the tallest human ever recorded, Robert Pershing Wadlow, reached an incredible 8 feet 11 inches, the average bull moose already surpasses the average human height by a significant margin. A typical bull moose stands around 6 to nearly 7 feet tall at the shoulder. This means their back would be well above the head of an average person, and their overall height, including the head, would be even more imposing.
In terms of weight, the difference is even more dramatic. The heaviest moose on record outweighed the heaviest human ever recorded (Jon Brower Minnoch, approximately 1,400 pounds at his peak) by about 400 pounds. Even an average bull moose easily outweighs a large human male by hundreds of pounds.
Baby Moose vs. Human Baby Comparison
The size difference is apparent even at birth. A newborn Alaska moose calf weighs around 28 pounds, which is comparable to the weight of an average 3-year-old human child. However, from this point, moose grow at an astonishing rate. They initially gain about 2 pounds per day, later increasing to an incredible 5 pounds per day. In stark contrast, a human child typically gains only about 5 pounds per year between the ages of 2 and 5. This rapid growth underscores the immense biological scale of these animals.
A moose print compared to a human foot, illustrating the large size of even a moose’s foot.
Visualizing the Difference
Imagine standing next to a full-grown bull moose. Its shoulder would tower over you. Its body mass would be several times your own. Looking up at its head, potentially adorned with a massive rack of antlers, would further emphasize its overwhelming size. This direct comparison truly highlights how humans are dwarfed by these magnificent animals in their natural environment.
Five Fascinating Facts Highlighting Moose Size and Capabilities
Beyond simple size comparisons, these facts further illustrate the impressive nature of moose:
1) Rapid Antler Growth
Moose antlers are among the fastest-growing tissues in the animal kingdom. Shed annually and regrown, they can add up to a pound of bone per day, accumulating as much as 80 pounds over a single summer. This rapid growth demands significant resources and showcases the moose’s efficient biological processes.
2) More Human Injuries Than Bears
Despite their herbivorous nature, moose are responsible for more human injuries than bears in certain regions. This isn’t due to aggression but rather their immense size and territorial nature, especially during mating season or when protecting calves. Their poor eyesight can also contribute to accidental encounters.
3) The Largest Deer Species
It’s worth reiterating: moose are the largest deer species on Earth. To equal the weight of just one bull moose, you would need approximately 53 South American pudus, the smallest deer species. On average, a moose weighs about ten times more than a typical whitetail deer, emphasizing their truly gigantic scale within the deer family.
4) Surprisingly Fast Calves
Moose calves are remarkably precocious. Within just five days of birth, a moose calf can outrun a human, reaching speeds exceeding 8 miles per hour. Adult moose can charge at speeds up to 35 mph for short bursts, faster than city speed limits and even outpacing Usain Bolt’s average sprint speed, highlighting their agility despite their bulk.
5) Compensating for Poor Eyesight
Moose have notoriously poor eyesight. To compensate, they possess exceptional senses of smell and hearing. Their large nostrils and sensitive nasal cavities allow them to differentiate and locate smells effectively. Furthermore, their dish-shaped antlers are believed to amplify sounds, aiding solitary bulls in locating calling females during mating season, demonstrating evolutionary adaptations to overcome visual limitations.
A cow moose with her calf, illustrating the already substantial size of a young moose.
In conclusion, comparing a full-size moose to a human reveals a dramatic difference in scale. These magnificent animals are not just “big”; they are truly giants of the deer world, dwarfing humans in height, weight, and overall physical presence. Understanding their true size enhances our appreciation for these incredible creatures and the wild spaces they inhabit.
