Moose. The very word conjures images of towering figures of the northern wilderness, majestic and imposing. You might have seen pictures, maybe even glimpsed one from a distance, and wondered: just how big are these creatures, really? Especially when you stack them up against a human?
It’s a valid question. A fully grown Alaska bull moose, the largest subspecies, can outweigh a small car and stand as tall as your front door. Phrases like “bigger than a horse” or “taller than a man” barely scratch the surface when you’re trying to grasp the sheer scale of these animals. To truly understand their size, and particularly how they measure up to us humans, we need to delve into the details.
Moose are the undisputed heavyweight champions of the deer family worldwide. In North America alone, four distinct subspecies roam the landscapes, each varying in size, though all undeniably large. From the colossal Alaska moose to the comparatively smaller Shiras moose, understanding these variations is key to appreciating their impressive dimensions. And when it comes to comparing them to humans, the differences are striking.
Moose Size Comparison by Subspecies: A Range of Giants
Moose inhabit the colder, northern regions across the globe, with North America hosting four recognized subspecies. These subspecies, while sharing the iconic moose characteristics, exhibit fascinating size variations depending on their geographical location and environmental factors. Let’s break down the size ranges of these North American moose.
1) Alaska Moose ( Alces alces gigas): The World’s Largest Deer
An Alaska bull moose, the largest of all moose subspecies, photographed in Denali National Park. Image Credit: LindaPhotography / Adobe Stock
The Alaska moose, also known as the Yukon moose in Canada or simply “giant moose,” earns its name. Living in the vast boreal and mixed forests of Alaska and the Yukon, these moose are the titans of their kind. They thrive on a diet of forbs, willow, and birch shoots, fueling their massive growth. Mature bulls typically stand just under 7 feet tall at the shoulder and weigh between a staggering 1,200 and 1,600 pounds. Females, while smaller, still routinely exceed 1,000 pounds.
The antlers of Alaska moose are equally impressive, reaching record-breaking spreads. One notable bull, recorded by Safari Club International (SCI), weighed an astonishing 1,800 pounds and sported antlers with a 74 2/8-inch spread. To put that into perspective, a white-tailed deer doe could comfortably fit within the span of these antlers. The Boone & Crockett (B&C) record holder, taken from the Lower Yukon River, scored 266-4/8 inches, highlighting the incredible antler development of this subspecies.
2) Northwestern Moose (Alces alces andersoni): Second Largest of North America
A Northwestern moose bull in Tobin Harbor, Isle Royale, Michigan. Image Credit: Tandem Stock / Adobe Stock
The Northwestern moose, or Western moose, inhabits the boreal forests of western Canada and extends into parts of the northern United States, including 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 formidable animals. Northwestern moose can stand over 6 ½ feet tall at the shoulder and approach weights of 1,600 pounds. To sustain their massive size, these moose consume around 10,000 calories daily, equivalent to roughly 70 pounds of vegetation.
Record-sized Northwestern moose bulls have antlers exceeding 64 inches in spread, demonstrating the impressive genetic potential for size within this subspecies.
3) Eastern Moose (Alces alces americana): A Common Sight in the Northeast
An Eastern moose wading in a pond in Baxter State Park, Maine. Image Credit: richardseeley / Adobe Stock
Eastern moose are prevalent throughout the northeastern United States and eastern Canada, including Maine, New York, and extending into Canadian provinces like Quebec and Newfoundland. While slightly smaller than their Alaskan and Northwestern cousins, Eastern moose are still substantial animals. Large Eastern bull moose can reach weights of up to 1,400 pounds and stand 6 feet tall at the shoulder. Hunting opportunities exist for Eastern moose, particularly in eastern Canada, making them a sought-after game animal. Record Eastern moose have displayed antlers with exceptional point counts, exceeding 20 points per antler, and impressive SCI scores, highlighting their significant size within the subspecies.
4) Shiras Moose (Alces alces shirasi): The Southernmost and Smallest Subspecies
A Shiras moose in its Rocky Mountain habitat in Wyoming. Image Credit: David / Adobe Stock
Shiras moose inhabit the southernmost range of moose territory in North America, residing in the Rocky Mountains of the western United States and Canada. They are the smallest of the North American moose subspecies, but “small” is a relative term. Shiras bulls can still weigh up to 1,200 pounds and stand 6 feet tall at the shoulder. The record Shiras moose, while lighter than record bulls of other subspecies, still boasted impressive antler scores, demonstrating that even the smallest moose subspecies is a large and powerful animal.
Moose vs. Human Size: A Direct Comparison
Now, let’s get to the core question: How Big Are Moose Compared To Humans? To truly grasp the scale, we need to put these numbers into a human context.
Height Comparison: Towering Over Us
A moose print in the snow next to a human foot, emphasizing the size difference. Image Credit: Grigory Bruev / Adobe Stock
When it comes to height, even the “smallest” Shiras moose stands roughly 6 feet tall at the shoulder. This means a Shiras moose is already as tall as, or taller than, many adult humans at its shoulder. The larger subspecies, like the Alaska moose reaching nearly 7 feet at the shoulder, truly tower over us.
Consider the average human height. For adult men in the US, it’s around 5 feet 9 inches. For women, it’s about 5 feet 4 inches. An average bull moose, across all subspecies, will easily be a foot or more taller than the average person at the shoulder. If a moose were to stand fully upright on its hind legs, its total height would be even more dramatically greater than a human’s.
Of course, the tallest human ever recorded, Robert Pershing Wadlow, reached an astonishing 8 feet 11 inches, surpassing even the largest moose ever recorded. However, comparing a statistical outlier to an average animal size isn’t representative. For the vast majority of humans, encountering a moose is encountering an animal significantly taller than themselves.
Weight Comparison: A Heavyweight Encounter
Weight is another area where the size difference is stark. An average adult human male in the US weighs around 197 pounds, and an average woman around 170 pounds. Compare this to even the smallest adult male Shiras moose, weighing up to 1,200 pounds. That’s more than six times the weight of an average man! Alaska moose, reaching up to 1,600 pounds or even 1,800 pounds in record cases, are in a completely different weight class compared to humans.
The heaviest human ever recorded, Jon Brower Minnoch, reached an estimated weight of 1,400 pounds at his peak. While this is exceptionally heavy for a human, it’s still within the normal weight range for a large Alaska moose bull. Again, this emphasizes the sheer mass and bulk of these animals.
Baby Moose vs. Human Child: Early Growth Disparities
Even at birth, the size difference is notable. A moose calf weighs around 28 pounds at birth, roughly the weight of a 3-year-old human child. However, the growth trajectories diverge dramatically after birth. Moose calves are built for rapid growth, gaining around 2 pounds per day initially, and later increasing to about 5 pounds per day. In contrast, a human child gains approximately 5 pounds per year between the ages of 2 and 5. This rapid growth in moose highlights their biological imperative to reach a large size quickly for survival in the wild.
Moose Size Compared to Other Animals: Contextualizing the Giant
To further understand just how large moose are, let’s briefly compare them to other well-known animals:
- Compared to Elephants: African elephants, the largest land animals, dwarf moose in size, reaching up to 13 feet tall and weighing 5,000 to 14,000 pounds. Moose, while large, are significantly smaller than elephants.
- Compared to Bison: Bison are heavier than most moose, sometimes reaching 2,000 pounds, but they are not as tall at the shoulder, typically around 6 feet. Large moose, especially Alaska moose, can rival bison in overall size.
- Compared to Elk: Moose are significantly larger than elk. A large bull elk might weigh just over 1,000 pounds and stand around 5 feet tall at the shoulder. Even a smaller Shiras moose bull is typically larger than a bull elk.
- Compared to Horses: The average quarter horse is roughly the size of a bull Shiras moose, around 1,200 pounds. However, exceptionally large horses, like the Shire breed, can be even larger than moose in weight, though not necessarily in height.
These comparisons illustrate that while moose are not the absolute largest land animals, they are undeniably massive, particularly when compared to other deer species and common animals we are familiar with.
Fascinating Facts About Moose Size and Biology
Beyond the raw size statistics, several fascinating biological facts contribute to and explain the impressive dimensions of moose:
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Rapid Antler Growth: Moose antlers are among the fastest-growing tissues in the animal kingdom. Bulls shed and regrow their antlers annually, adding up to a pound of bone per day and potentially up to 80 pounds of antler mass over a single summer. This rapid growth requires immense resources and showcases the moose’s efficient biological processes.
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Largest Deer Species: Moose are the largest members of the deer family (Cervidae). To emphasize this point, it would take approximately 53 South American pudus, the smallest deer species, to equal the weight of one bull moose. On average, moose weigh about ten times more than a white-tailed deer, highlighting their dominant size within the deer family.
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Early Calf Development: Moose calves exhibit remarkable early development. Within just five days of birth, a moose calf can outrun a human. Adult moose can charge at speeds of around 35 mph for short bursts, faster than many urban speed limits and significantly faster than human running speeds. This early mobility is crucial for predator evasion and survival.
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Size and Senses Adaptation: Moose have poor eyesight but compensate with exceptional senses of smell and hearing. Their large nostrils and sensitive nasal cavities allow them to differentiate smells and determine scent direction. Scientists believe their dish-shaped antlers may also amplify sounds, aiding solitary bulls in locating calling females during mating season. These sensory adaptations are crucial for navigating their environment and finding mates, especially given their size and solitary nature.
A cow moose with her calf. Moose calves exhibit rapid growth from a young age. Image Credit: David Le Saint / Adobe Stock
Conclusion: Giants of the North
When considering how big are moose compared to humans, the answer is definitively: significantly larger. They tower over us in height, outweigh us by hundreds or even thousands of pounds, and possess a physical presence that commands respect. From the colossal Alaska moose to the still-substantial Shiras moose, these animals are truly giants of their ecosystems. Understanding their size not only satisfies our curiosity but also fosters a greater appreciation for these magnificent creatures and the wild landscapes they inhabit. Encountering a moose in its natural environment is a powerful reminder of the scale and grandeur of the natural world, and the relatively small place we occupy within it.
