Many elk herds spend the summer on public land at higher elevation. They move to lower elevations for the fall and winter, and some spend time on private land where they eat available food and may conflict with the interests of farmers and ranchers. Where elk are abundant, their feeding also profoundly effects local vegetation and associated wildlife species.
Photo Credit: Gerald and Buff Corsi
Cervus elaphus
Common Name: elk
Other Common Names: red deer, wapati
Animal Guild: Mammal
Class > Order > Family: Mammalia > Artiodactyla > Cervidae
What does the species look like?
Elk are large members of the deer family. They are 1.0-1.5 meters (3-5 ft) tall and weigh 175-500 kg (385-500 lb), with males growing much larger than females. Male Roosevelt elk, the largest subspecies, weigh as much as 600 kg (1,300 lb). They are dark brown to tan in color. Males grow antlers up to 2 meters (6 feet) across. Unlike moose, they spend most of the year in herds.
Where is the species found?
States & Provinces
AB, AL, AR, AZ, BC, CA, CO, DC, DE, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MB, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NM, NT, NV, NY, OH, OK, ON, OR, PA, QC, SC, SD, SK, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY, YT
Distribution
Elk were common throughout North America at the time of European settlement but are now extirpated in most eastern states. Today they can be found from western Canada south to Arizona and New Mexico, with isolated populations in Minnesota, Michigan, Oklahoma, and several eastern states.
Elk are found in open woodland, woodland edge, clearcuts, alpine tundra, and meadows. In some areas, elk are also found in shrubsteppe and grassland. Many populations are migratory, moving among reliable food sources from season to season. In particular, populations that use subalpine habitats migrate downslope, away from deep snow, for the winter.
General Phenology and Life History
Adult females give birth to 1-2 calves in late spring. Females and calves form herds during spring and summer. Mothers bring their calves to the herds within a couple weeks of birth. Males may form herds or spend the summer alone. As the rut begins in the fall (September-October), male herds break up, and each male tries to recruit and defend a harem of females. During the rut, males engage in much bugling and sparring battles. Males grow antlers in spring and summer and drop them in winter or as late as spring (especially younger males).
Which phenophases should I observe?
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Activity
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Reproduction
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Development
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What do these phenophases look like?
There is currently no photoguide available for this species. If you'd like help us create one, use the guidance document and species template provided here . Then send it via email to education@usanpn.org when it is complete.
