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Elk bull roaring

Elk

Elk are one of the world's largest species of deer once thought to be the same species as the red deer. They are now known to be a species in their own right and are in fact more closely related to sika deer than to red deer. Primarily grazers and browsers of open woodland and forests, elk are native to North America and east Asia. They have also become well established in all other countries where they've been introduced. The males grow large, impressive antlers every year that are used in the spectacular clashes that take place during the seasonal rut. Calves can be particularly vulnerable to wolves, coyotes, bears and big cats.

Scientific name: Cervus canadensis

Rank: Species

Common names:

  • North American elk,
  • Wapiti

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Distribution

The Elk can be found in a number of locations including: China, North America. Find out more about these places and what else lives there.

Habitats

The following habitats are found across the Elk distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.

Behaviours

Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.

Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web

About

The elk or wapiti (Cervus canadensis) is one of the largest species of deer in the world, and one of the largest land mammals in North America and eastern Asia. It was long believed to be a subspecies of the European red deer (Cervus elaphus), but evidence from a 2004 study of the mitochondrial DNA indicates that the two are distinct species.

This animal should not be confused with the larger moose (Alces alces), to which the name "elk" applies in Eurasia. Apart from the moose, the only other member of the deer family to rival the elk in size is the south Asian sambar (Rusa unicolor).

Elk range in forest and forest-edge habitat, feeding on grasses, plants, leaves, and bark. Although native to North America and eastern Asia, they have adapted well to countries where they have been introduced, including Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand. Their great adaptability may threaten endemic species and ecosystems into which they have been introduced.

Male elk have large antlers which are shed each year. Males also engage in ritualized mating behaviors during the rut, including posturing, antler wrestling (sparring), and bugling, a loud series of vocalizations which establishes dominance over other males and attracts females.

Elk are susceptible to a number of infectious diseases, some of which can be transmitted to livestock. Efforts to eliminate infectious diseases from elk populations, largely through vaccination, have had mixed success.

Some cultures revere the elk as a spiritual force. In parts of Asia, antlers and their velvet are used in traditional medicines. Elk are hunted as a game species; the meat is leaner and higher in protein than beef or chicken.

Read more at Wikipedia

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