In later summer, the velvet is rubbed from the fully grown antlers, revealing the bony structure. Antlers look particularly large in summer when they are encased in velvet-a covering that protects them during growth. It is amazing that these large structures are grown new each year by the animals in a period of a few months in spring and summer. Male elk are notable for their impressively large antlers. Elk have long, blackish hair on the neck that is referred to as a mane. In contrast to the rump, the head and neck are dark. Although it looks white from a distance, on closer inspection the rump colour is ivory to orange. The colour of the elk’s coat ranges from reddish brown in summer to dark brown in winter. Cows are substantially smaller but still have a shoulder height of 135 cm and an adult weight of around 250 kg. An adult bull elk stands about 150 cm tall at the shoulder and weighs about 300 to 350 kg, although some large bulls approach 500 kg in late summer before the rut, or breeding season. Among Canadian deer, they are second in size only to the moose. In general appearance elk are obviously kin to the well-known white-tailed deer. This appears to be the main threat for the Rocky Mountain Elk.The North American elk, or wapiti, is the largest form of the red deer species Cervus elaphus. In the western United States, many housing developments are being established in prime elk habitat. This is causing problems for both species. It seems that elk and humans both have good tastes about where to live. Hunting and loss of habitat due to development has thus far made 2 species extinct. According to historical accounts such as Lewis and Clark’s journals, it was not unusual to see large herds of elk in the prairies of the West. Threats from Mankind:Before the settlement of the United States in the 1800’s, the 7 species of elk inhabiting North America were spread across the continent. The elk calves are also in danger from black bears who hunt for them right after they are born. Perhaps the most efficient four-legged hunter is the wolf, who hunt in packs and is a large threat to any animal in its home range. However, the predators will make easy prey of sick, weak adults and the young. Like most adult mammals most healthy elk are in little danger from predators. Natural Predators:Įlk use large herds as a form of protection against predators. Their current range includes the Rocky Mountains and small pockets of habitat where they have successfully been reintroduced, such as Pennsylvania and on the Great Plains in North Dakota and Montana. Calves work hard at getting enough nourishment to grow and store up energy for the hard times of winter that will soon be here.ĭistribution:Historically elk ranged across the nearly all of the United States and over most of western Canada. His last shot was to stab the challenger in the rear with his dagger like horn.Ĭows give birth from late May to early June. The clash lasted only a half a minute or so and the herb bull remained victorious. They knocked down trees and the amount of power that they had was enormous. When they lock horns pandemonium broke loose. The herb bull was challenged by an equally impressive satellite bull. I witnessed one such confrontation in September in the Bridger Mountain is southwest Montana. When they actually clash it is an amazing sight. Bulls expend massive amounts of calories defending the harem or challenging for a harem.įor a video of elk and to hear their vocalization please go to this Elk YouTube video. Bull elk fight each other for the right to pass on his genes to the harem of cows. The rut begins in late August to and might run until November.

The other elk learn from the lead cow and this is how elk successfully live in an area for years and years. The other elk rely on the lead cow to safely escort them to the proper areas at the right time. This cow typically is one of the more mature cows and has memorized trails to and from all the crucial areas in their home range. The elk in a herd rely on a mature cow called the “lead cow”. It is truly amazing to witness a bull elk run through a stand of timber and efficiently twist his antlers back and forth without hitting a single tree. Their massive antlers sweep back from their heads and sometimes extend all the way to the rump. When standing on four legs, a bull elk can be as five feet high at the shoulder. Younger bulls tend to group together and mature bulls tend to be solitary until the fall when the “rut” or breeding season begins.Ī mature bull elk is usually 8 to 12 years old and can weigh nearly 1,000 pounds and a mature cow can weigh as much as 600 pounds. Herds can be as large as 25 cows, calves and yearlings.

While they are walking through the woods they are constantly vocalizing to each other to reassure as well as communicate regarding safety and security to the harem.

Rocky mountain elk weight