Moose and bison are two of North America’s largest mammals, often sparking curiosity about their relative sizes. This article aims to provide a factual comparison of their physical dimensions.
Understanding Moose Dimensions
Moose, recognized as the largest members of the deer family, are impressive in stature. An adult moose typically stands between 4.7 to 6.9 feet (1.4 to 2.1 meters) tall at the shoulder. While some Alaskan subspecies can reach nearly 7 feet (2.1 meters) at the shoulder, their body length ranges from 7.8 to 10.2 feet (2.4 to 3.1 meters).
Male moose, known as bulls, are heavier than females, generally weighing between 838 to 1,543 pounds (380 to 700 kilograms), with females weighing 441 to 1,080 pounds (200 to 490 kilograms). A distinguishing feature of male moose is their broad, palmate antlers, which can span up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) across, though typically they range from 3.9 to 4.9 feet (1.2 to 1.5 meters).
Understanding Bison Dimensions
Bison, North America’s largest land mammals, present a robust and muscular build. A mature male bison, or bull, can reach a shoulder height of 5.5 to 6.5 feet (1.7 to 2 meters) at the hump, while females typically stand 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 meters) tall. Their body length extends from 9 to 12.5 feet (2.7 to 3.8 meters) for males and 7 to 10 feet (2.2 to 3.2 meters) for females. Bison possess a distinctive, large hump over their forequarters that contributes to their imposing appearance.
Male bison typically range from 1,500 to 2,400 pounds (680 to 1,088 kilograms), and females weigh between 900 to 1,200 pounds (410 to 545 kilograms). Unlike moose, bison have shorter, curved horns that are not shed annually.
Comparing Their Stature
When directly comparing their dimensions, moose are generally taller at the shoulder than bison. Moose commonly reach shoulder heights of up to 7 feet, exceeding the typical 6.5-foot shoulder height of a bison. However, the bison’s massive hump, which extends several feet above its head, contributes significantly to its overall vertical bulk, making it appear exceptionally large.
Despite the moose’s greater shoulder height, bison are considerably heavier animals. The average weight range for a bull bison (1,500 to 2,400 pounds) substantially surpasses that of a bull moose (838 to 1,543 pounds). In terms of body length, both animals are long, with male bison often having a slightly greater maximum length.
Their distinct body structures also influence their perceived size. Moose possess long, slender legs designed to navigate deep snow and dense forest undergrowth, with a shoulder hump that tapers off quickly. In contrast, bison have shorter, powerful legs supporting a more compact, barrel-chested body and a pronounced, slowly tapering hump over their front shoulders. Overall, while a moose stands taller on its long legs, a bison outweighs it considerably, making the bison the heavier and more massive of the two animals.