Wildlife Biology

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Wildlife Biology

• Elks

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Physical Characteristics
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Physical Characteristics

• 2nd largest in the deer family
• Moose is first
• Nickname is Wapiti
• Shawnee word for White Hump
• Male Bull
• Female Cow

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Physical Characteristics

• 5 Ft. at Shoulder
• 8-10 Ft. Long
• 600 - 800 Lbs. is average.
• An old Alaskan record was 1500 Lbs.
• Antlers may be 5 from tip to tip, with a 5 main
  beam

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Physical Characteristics

• DISTINGUISHING COLORS
• Dark brown head and neck
• Dark belly and legs
• Light, almost white rump patch
• Have a mane of longer hair on the neck

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Physical Characteristics

• Both sexes have large, rounded upper canines
  called Elk Tusks
• These were treasured by Indians and Poachers.
• Worth as much as 75 a pair.
• Worn on pocket watches by members of the Elks
  Lodge.

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Range and Distribution

• Formerly the entire northern half of the U.S. and
  almost all of the northern world.
• Today most are I the Rockies (Yellowstone), Black
  Hills, and nearby areas.
• 20-30 of these Rocky Mt. Elk are in Northern
  Minnesota, near Grygla.

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Sub-Species of Elk

• The European Red Deer is the European subspecies.
• The Pacific Northwest subspecies is the Roosevelt
  Elk.
• The Tule Elk subspecies are in Arizona and Calif.

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Habits, Etc.

• Known for seasonal migrations from lowlands
  (winter) to highlands (summer)
• Fastest antler growth in deer family, up to 1
  inch/day
• Begin growing as soon as old ones fall off.
• Most vocal of the deer family

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Habits, Etc.

• Bulls bugling can be heard for miles
• Cows and calves can cry or bark too
• Can reach 30MPH in a gallop
• Are grazing animals
• But will browse in winter when grasses are scarce

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Habits, Etc.

• 15 of the herds die in winter
• Enemies
• Starvation, mountain lion, grizzly
• Coyote, wolves, Wolverine
• Possibly Lynx
• Bedding down rather then traveling conserves 25
  of energy in winter

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Reproduction, Etc.

• The rut takes place in Sept/Oct
• If breeding doesnt occur female goes into estrus
  several times in Nov
• The bull makes wallows
• Much deeper, larger then scrapes
• Males roll in them
• Can be smelt long ways off

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Reproduction Etc.

• The dominant bull stag has a harem of cows.
• Harem is 30-60 cows
• Mates with almost all of them
• Cows dont mate until 3 years of age
• Gestation of 8-8.5 months
• Usually 1 calf

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Reproduction Etc.

• Twins about 25 of the time
• Calves weigh about 37 lbs at birth