CreatureData

Moose vs Roe deer

The moose is heavier: 357 kg against 22.5 kg for the roe deer, about 16 times the weight.

Moose (Alces alces)
Moose LCLeast Concern
Photo: Badzil · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)
Roe deer LCLeast Concern
Photo: Jerzystrzelecki · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

What is the difference between a moose and a roe deer?

Each point below is worked out from a pair of recorded values.

  • The moose is heavier: 357 kg against 22.5 kg for the roe deer, about 16 times the weight.
  • The moose is longer-lived: 27 years against 17.2 years for the roe deer, about 57% longer.
  • They share the family Cervidae but sit in different genera: Moose in Alces, Roe deer in Capreolus.
  • Both are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Side by side

MooseRoe deer
Scientific nameAlces alcesCapreolus capreolus
FamilyCervidaeCervidae
OrderArtiodactylaArtiodactyla
Weight351 kg – 789 kg20.5 kg – 22.5 kg
LengthNot recordedNot recorded
Lifespan27 years17.2 years
Main foodforb, polypodiopsida, populus tremuloides, potamogeton distinctus, salix, taraxacumNot recorded
HabitatshrublandNot recorded
Conservation statusLeast ConcernLeast Concern
Countries recordedNot recordedNot recorded

A scale drawing needs a recorded length for both animals; only weights are on record for this pair.

Full record: MooseFull record: Roe deerCompare other animals