Elk or moose?
How to tell them apart
In North America “elk” means a different species of deer. In British English “elk” means the moose.
Quick answers
They give the same 8 quick answers, so in the game it comes down to the clues below.
| Question | Elk | Moose |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Mammal | Mammal |
| Carnivore? | No, herbivore | No, herbivore |
| Dangerous? | Can be | Can be |
| Domesticated? | No | No |
| Awake when? | Day & night | Day & night |
| Hibernates? | No | No |
| Kept as a pet? | No | No |
| Do people eat it? | Yes | Yes |
At a glance
| Question | Elk | Moose |
|---|---|---|
| Found in differs | North America, Asia, South America, New Zealand | North America, Europe, Asia |
| Habitat differs | Forest | Forest, Wetland, Rivers & lakes |
| Size differs | Large | Huge |
| Length differs | 1.6–2.7 m (nose to tail) | 2.3–3.1 m |
| Height differs | 0.75–1.5 m at the shoulder | – |
| Weight differs | Males 178–497 kg, females 171–292 kg | 270–771 kg |
| Legs | 4 | 4 |
| Covered in | Fur | Fur |
| Lives differs | In herds | Alone |
| Lives for differs | 10–13 years | 15–25 years |
| Can fly | No | No |
| Swims | Yes | Yes |
| Lays eggs | No | No |
About each
Elk
The second-largest deer after the moose, native to North America and Central and East Asia. Its other name, wapiti, comes from a Shawnee and Cree word for "white rump". Males grow large antlers and shed them every year.
Moose
The tallest, largest and heaviest living deer, known as “elk” in British English. A solitary browser of northern forests, it spends a lot of time in and around water.
Sources
Last reviewed . The answers and notes come from each animal's own page, where every source is listed.
How each answer is decided: How we answer. More look-alikes: Side by side.