how fast can a moose run
An adult moose can sprint at about 35 miles per hour (around 56 km/h) in short bursts.
Quick Scoop
- Top sprint speed: About 35 mph / 56 km/h.
- Sustained running speed: Roughly 20–25 mph (32–40 km/h) over longer distances.
- Swimming speed: Around 6 mph (about 10 km/h), which is impressively fast for such a large animal.
- Size vs speed: Despite weighing 800–1,600+ pounds, moose can accelerate quickly and handle rough terrain, deep snow, and wetlands using a special pacing gait.
In practical terms, a healthy moose can easily outrun a human on land and often in shallow water or snow as well.
How fast can a moose run?
Moose use powerful, long legs and a “pacing” gait (both legs on one side move together) that lets them cover ground quickly, even where footing is uneven. Multiple wildlife and ecology sources converge on the same range: top speed about 35 mph for short distances. Over longer stretches, they can maintain roughly 20–25 mph, which is still much faster than the typical human sprint speed. Even very young calves can already outrun an adult human within just a few days of birth, underscoring how naturally fast this species is.
Moose vs predators and other deer
- Compared with other deer (like elk, mule deer, or reindeer), moose are slightly slower, since some relatives can hit 45–50 mph.
- Many predators (wolves, big cats, bears) can match or beat 35 mph in short bursts, but they also tire quickly, so a strong moose may still escape over distance.
| Animal | Typical top speed |
|---|---|
| Moose | Up to ~35 mph / 56 km/h (short bursts) | [7][9][1][3]
| Sustained running moose | ~20–25 mph / 32–40 km/h (longer distance) | [9][1][3]
| Human (average adult sprint) | Much less than 20 mph, so slower than moose (inferred vs. moose data). | [5][3][9]
| Mule deer / elk | Up to ~45 mph / 72 km/h | [1][3]
| Caribou (reindeer) | Up to ~50 mph / 80 km/h | [1]
| Wolf | Roughly 35–40 mph / 56–64 km/h (short sprints) | [3][1]
Mini story: Imagine this
You’re hiking in northern forest, and you spot a moose up ahead on the trail. It looks huge but calm, moving slowly as it browses on shrubs. Then something startles it. In a heartbeat, this massive animal explodes into motion, surging through brush and over fallen logs at what looks like car-driving speed on a neighborhood street. In just a few seconds, it’s hundreds of feet away, proving that those long legs and that bulky frame hide a serious turn of speed.
Safety angle (important)
Wildlife groups emphasize that trying to outrun a moose is a bad idea: they can accelerate quickly and keep a strong pace over rough ground. Advice generally focuses on avoiding close encounters, watching for signs of agitation (ears back, head lowered, fixed stare), and putting solid obstacles (like trees or boulders) between you and the animal if it charges.
TL;DR: A moose can run about 35 mph (56 km/h) in short bursts and around 20–25 mph over distance, easily outpacing a human on land and often in challenging terrain.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.
