Today on Animal Fact Files we’re discussing elk.
For a long time elk and red deer were considered the same species. Because of that, some literature
still lists them as such, however, more recent evidence suggests that they are separate species.
Bull elk nearly double red deer in weight at 700 pounds compared to the red deer’s 400 pounds;
bull elk carry their antlers longer than red deer; and elk gestate 20 days more than the red deer.
While the two species are able to produce fertile offspring with each other, we will approach this
episode as if they are separate. Plus, they sound completely different from one another,
but we’ll come back to that later in the video. Another confusing aspect of the elk
name comes from the fact that the “moose” in North America is called the “elk'' in British English,
but we discussed that in our moose episode if you want to learn more.
Elk live in hilly or mountainous regions with open woodlands as well as pastures and dense forests.
Like many deer, they live in transitional areas. They’re native to the northern hemisphere and
once had a broad range across North America and Asia. That range has diminished today,
but reintroduction efforts have increased their populations.
For example, these deer were extirpated from the Appalachian Mountains, but wild herds can now be
seen there. They’ve also been introduced to parts of the southern hemisphere such as New Zealand.
Elk are some of the largest living deer in the world. They stand four and a half feet (137cm)
tall at the shoulder and weigh anywhere from 500 to over 700 pounds (227-318kg) on average. Male
elk, called bulls, sport antlers that can reach six feet (183cm) across and weigh more than 30
pounds (14kg)! For reference, an elk calf weighs about 30 pounds at birth, so a bull carries around
the weight of his child all winter! Elk antlers begin growing once they reach a year of age. They
start to grow towards the end of spring after last year’s set has fallen off. When they first grow
in, they’re soft and velvety. After a few months, this is shed to reveal the hard antlers beneath.
Bulls rub their antlers to remove the velvet and sharpen their antlers in the process.
The “rut”, which begins in fall, is the name given to the deer mating season when males compete with
each other over females. Though their antlers are imposing, bulls are not typically harmed
in these matches. They’ll butt heads to show dominance with the loser walking away in defeat.
Male elk also broadcast their status with a loud bugle call. As we mentioned,
this sounds far different from the red deer’s roar. Here’s a red deer: [audio]
And here is the call of the elk: [audio]
I’ve always thought it was somewhat haunting, what do you think?
A dominant male will have a harem of a few dozen cows, or female elk,
and mate with each. Female elk gestate for about 250 days and give birth in
spring. Like bongos, mother elk give birth away from the herd and the calves join them
about two weeks later. Outside of the breeding season, male elk form bachelor groups while
the females remain together with their young. In some areas, they migrate to warmer places,
such as from the top of the mountain to valleys, to ensure they have enough food.
Elk primarily eat grasses but during colder months when food is more difficult to find they’ll also
eat bark, twigs, fruits and more. In turn, these deer are a food source to cougars, wolves, bears,
coyotes, and bobcats. If they can avoid predation, however, they may live to be 18 years old!
Elk may also be confused with the similar-looking caribou,
or reindeer, but there’s one easy way to tell these animals apart.
Reindeer, like Santa, have a white beard - or a light colored neck - while elk have dark necks!
For more facts on elk, check out the links below.
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