Elk Biology

Elk
Cervus canadensis

Identification: Height 4-5 ft. (122-152cm). Wt.: males, 700-1000lb. (315-450 kg); females, 500-600lb. (225-270 kg). Beam length of antlers to 64 3?8 in. (164 cm); record spread 75 in. (188 cm). A large deer with pale yellowish rump patch, small white tail, general reddish-brown body (chestnut-brown neck with a mane in males), and huge spreading antlers on males in late summer and autumn.  Skull (Plate 32) has 34 teeth.  There are 4 mammae.

The Dwarf, or Tule Elk, now confined to a reserve in Kern Co., California, is considered a distinct species (C. nannodes) by some authors.  Some would place the N. American Elk in the Old World species elaphus.

Similar species: (1) Moose has a large overhanging snout and brown rump.  (2) Mule Deer is smaller and has black on the tail.  (3) Whitetail Deer is smaller; no rump patch.  (4) Woodland Caribou has whitish neck.

Habitat: Semiopen forest, mt. meadows (in summer), foothills, pains, and valleys.

Habits: Most active mornings and evenings.  Usually seen in groups of 25 or more; both sexes together in winter, old bulls in separate groups during summer.  Feeds on grasses, herbs, twigs, bark.  Migrates up mts. In spring, down in fall; males shed antlers Feb – March; velvet shed in Aug.  Attains adult dentition at 2 ½-3years.  Calf has high-pitched squeal when in danger; cow has similar squeal, also sharp bark when traveling with herd; males have high-pitched bugling call that stars with a low note and ends with a few low-toned grunts, heard during rutting season, especially at night.  Lives 14 years (25 in captivity).  Females breed at 21/2 years.  Rut starts in Sept.; old males round up harems.

Young: Born May-June; normally 1, rarely2; gestation period about 81/2 months.  Spotted.  Able to walk a few minutes after birth.

Economic status: Can do considerable damage to vegetables, pastures, grainfields, and haystacks; a prize game mammal for meat and trophies; formerly ranged over much of continent, now restricted.  There have been numerous attempts to reestablish them, some successful, others not.  May be seen commonly in following national parks: Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Olympic, Glacier, Rocky Mt., Banff, and Jasper; also other places where they have been introduced.  Apparently established on Afognak I., Alaska (not on map). 

Source: Peterson’s Field Guide, Third Edition. 1976.