Moose are very often shown as cute and cuddly animals in books and cartoons. But in real life, we are sure that you would not like to mess with one. They are taller than most basketball players and weigh more than 1,300 pounds.
How Tall Do Moose Get?
Moose are huge mammals. They can grow from 5 to 6.5 feet from hooves to shoulders. The average height of a moose is about 6.2 feet and weighs around 1,200 pounds. As per the record, the Alaskan male moose is the tallest of its entire species.
Which is the tallest of the species of moose?
The Alaska moose is the tallest one. It is a subspecies of moose and is also known as giant deer. Male Alaskan moose are nearly 7-feet tall on average and their weight is more than 1,400 pounds.
What is the normal height of female and male moose?
According to the National Museum of Natural History, the height of female moose from hoof to shoulder ranges from 5 to 6.5 feet or 1.5 to 2 meters. Their average weight is 595 to 882 pounds or 270 to 400 kilograms. Males are generally taller than females and they have a weight of 794 to 1,323 pounds or 360 to 600 kilograms.
How tall is a moose calf?
After birth, a moose calf grows very fast. The calf is already about 110 cm tall when it is just one month old. On average, a calf that is one year old can be as tall as 200 cm.
Moose Size Varies With Region
While all moose are large, due to their regional differences, their size varies. Four different species of moose can be found in North America.
Alaskan Moose: Alaskan Moose are the largest of the four subspecies of moose. They live in Alaska. It measures up to 6 feet 9 inches in height at the shoulder. They weigh up to 1400 pounds and their antlers extend just less than 6 feet in width.
North-western Moose: The North-western Moose is found in a few of the northern US states and throughout central Canada. On average, they can grow up to a height of 6 feet 4 inches at shoulder level.
Shiras Moose: The Shiras Moose can be found in Utah and Idaho in the United States. Additionally, they live in British Columbia. Shiras is the smallest of the subspecies of moose. Shiras moose range in size from 36 to 55 cm in height from hoof to the shoulder level.
Eastern Moose: Maine’s own Eastern Moose can be found in Eastern Canada and the North-eastern portions of the United States. It is the third-largest subspecies of moose after behind Alaskan and Western ones. Eastern Moose can stand up to 6 feet 6 inches in height at shoulder level.
Final Words
We hope that from this article, you have learned something about these great creatures. So, the next time you have the privilege to see a moose in the wild, we hope that you will remember some of the features that make these beautiful creatures so special.