The Elk(ungulates - hooved animals) is next up on the list for the deer family. In North America, elk are called "Wapiti," named by the Shawnee Indians meaning, "white rump." There are six subspecies of elk:
Merriam elk and Eastern elk which are now extinct, were found in the Southwest and Mexico.
Roosevelt elk are found in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and California. These elk are larger then the rest. Cows may weigh 600 pounds and bulls may weigh up to 850 pounds.
Manitoban elk are mostly found in Canada but also can be seen south to Oklahoma. Cows can average 600 pounds and bulls 750 pounds.
Rocky Mountain elk are found in the Rocky Mountain regions, although some have been transplanted in other states. They are the most numerous in the subspecies. Cows can average 500 to 600 pounds and bulls 750 to 800 pounds.
Tule elk are found in California. They are the smallest in the subspecies. Cows can average 300 to 350 pounds and bulls 500 to 600 pounds.
Some elk may weigh as much as 1,000 pounds. One this size is rare but truly magnificent. Elk vary in color depending on the season. In the spring, elk tend to be a dark reddish brown and by winter, their coats take on a lighter hue. As elk age their antlers grow larger. Each spring they shed their antlers and begin to grow new ones.
They graze on grasses and wildflowers, especially in open meadows. Spring is the best time to capture these animals before they move onto their summer ranges. In the winter, Elk move from higher to lower elevations. The snow gets too deep and the weather becomes very brutal, which leaves their food source sparse. Refuges offer safe winter homes to elk herds while maintaining a food source through some of the toughest winters. The National Elk Refuge in Jackson, Wyoming, was created in 1912 for the survival of the elk herds. There are a few refuges or winter ranges throughout the region.
Dawn and dusk bring out these wondorous animals. The sound of a bugling bull throughout the valleys at the start of the autumn season is majestic, bringing in the cows during the rut process which starts mid-September and continues through early October. The echoes are...the calls of the wild.
Next, we have the Caribou. Did you know that Alaska has more caribou than people? Alaska's human
| Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: | View all related messages |
For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to Connie Troutman's Wildlife topic, please visit the Discussions page.