When considering whether a moose is larger than a bear, the answer is not straightforward and depends significantly on the specific bear species being compared. While moose are the largest members of the deer family, bears exhibit a wide range of sizes, from relatively small to truly enormous.
The Mighty Moose: Unpacking Their Grandeur
Moose are the largest deer species, possessing a towering stature. An adult male moose, often referred to as a bull, typically stands between 6 and 7 feet tall at the shoulder. These animals are also quite heavy, with male moose averaging between 1,200 and 1,600 pounds. Some larger individuals, particularly the Alaskan subspecies, can exceed 1,800 pounds.
Their body length generally ranges from 7 to 10 feet, measured from head to rump. Male moose develop broad, palmate antlers that can span up to 6 feet across, though these are shed annually and are not included in body height measurements.
The Diverse World of Bears: A Spectrum of Sizes
Bears exhibit significant variation in size. Brown bears, including grizzly bears and Kodiak bears, are among the largest. Male grizzly bears typically stand 3.5 to 4.5 feet tall at the shoulder and can weigh between 400 and 800 pounds. Kodiak bears, a subspecies found in Alaska, are even larger, with males often reaching 4 to 5 feet at the shoulder and weighing 600 to 1,400 pounds. Some exceptionally large Kodiak males have been recorded weighing up to 1,500 pounds.
Polar bears are considered the largest land carnivores, rivaling the biggest brown bears in size. Adult male polar bears typically stand 3.5 to 5 feet tall at the shoulder on all fours and weigh between 770 and 1,500 pounds. Some record-setting individuals have reportedly weighed over 2,200 pounds.
In contrast, American black bears are considerably smaller, with males standing around 2.5 to 3.5 feet tall at the shoulder and weighing 250 to 600 pounds. Other bear species, such as sun bears, are much smaller, typically weighing less than 150 pounds.
Head-to-Head: Moose Versus Bear Size Comparison
When comparing moose to various bear species, moose generally hold the advantage in shoulder height. Even the largest brown bears and polar bears, which can be 4 to 5 feet tall at the shoulder, are typically shorter than a moose on all fours.
However, the comparison shifts when considering weight and overall bulk. While moose are heavy, weighing up to 1,600 pounds, the largest brown bears and polar bears can match or exceed this. A large male Kodiak bear or polar bear can weigh up to 1,500 pounds or more, sometimes surpassing the heaviest moose. American black bears are consistently smaller and lighter than moose in all dimensions. Therefore, while a moose is generally taller, some of the largest bear species can be heavier or possess greater overall mass.