Male elk develop large, branched antlers during the spring. The name wapiti comes from Shawnee and Cree word “waapiti”, which refers to the elk’s white rump. In winter both male and female elk develop a mane of dark hair around their necks. The color and thickness of an elk’s coat changes with the season in winter it becomes thick and greyish, whereas in summer it is thinner, shorter and darker in color. What Does An Elk Look Like? A group of female elk.Įlk are large ungulates (hoofed mammals) with dark reddish-brown coats and pale patches on their rumps. Weight: Elk bulls are as much as 25 percent heavier than the cows.
Shoulder height: bulls 5 ft (1.5 m) cows 4.5 ft (1.3 m).Length (nose to rump): bulls average 8 ft (2.4 m) cows average 6.5 ft (2 m).Where Found: North America and east Asia.Other species in Cervidae include the moose, red deer, sika deer, fallow deer, roe deer and reindeer. Animal Family: Cervidae (the deer family).
Today, the total elk population numbers around two million individuals, and is thought to be increasing. Bull elk are characterized by their impressive, branched antlers and loud “bugling” cries, which can be heard during the fall mating season.Įlk are thought to have evolved about 20 million years ago in the steppe regions of Beringia, a mass of land that once stretched between Siberia in northeastern Asia and Alaska in northwestern North America. It is found in forest, shrubland and grassland habitats in North America and eastern Asia. The elk is the second-largest species of deer in the world (only the moose is larger).
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