The moose, the largest member of the deer family, commands attention primarily due to its immense size. This powerful herbivore is one of the tallest land mammals in North America, often compared to a horse in stature. Applying the traditional equine measurement of “hands” offers a clear, if non-standard, way to understand the true scale of this impressive animal.
Understanding the “Hand” Measurement
The “hand” is a non-Standard International (SI) unit of length, standardized to precisely four inches, or 10.16 centimeters. Originating in ancient Egypt, this unit is primarily used today to measure the height of horses and other equines. The measurement is always taken from the ground to the highest point of the animal’s shoulder, a ridge known as the withers.
The Direct Answer: Moose Height in Hands
The average adult bull moose stands between 17 and 20 hands tall at the shoulder. This range translates to a shoulder height of approximately 5 feet 8 inches to 6 feet 8 inches (1.73 to 2.03 meters). The tallest recorded specimens, particularly those from the Alaskan subspecies, can exceed 21 hands. This great height explains why a collision with a moose can be dangerous, as the bulk of the animal tends to impact a vehicle’s windshield rather than the bumper.
Size Variation Across Moose Subspecies
The overall size, and therefore the height in hands, varies significantly across the subspecies, with geography being a major determinant of physical stature. The largest is the Alaskan or Yukon Moose (Alces alces gigas), which inhabits Alaska and the Yukon Territory and consistently represents the upper end of the height and mass scale. Conversely, the smallest North American subspecies, the Shiras Moose (Alces alces shirasi), found in the Rocky Mountains, is shorter and lighter, often closer to the 17-hand mark. Biological factors like age and sex also influence an individual’s height, as mature bulls are generally taller than cows.
Beyond Height: Weight and Overall Mass
While height focuses on the vertical dimension, the overall mass of the moose truly conveys its scale. Adult male moose commonly weigh between 800 and 1,500 pounds (360 to 680 kilograms), with the largest bulls sometimes surpassing 1,800 pounds. This makes the moose the heaviest extant species in the deer family, second only to the American bison among North American land animals. The animal’s body length frequently reaches up to 10 feet from nose to tail. Furthermore, the massive, palmate antlers of a mature bull can span up to six feet across during the mating season.