Elk
Cervus canadensis
Male elk antlers can grow up to one inch per day during the peak summer growing season, fueled by a rich supply of blood through a fuzzy skin called velvet.
- Scientific name
- Cervus canadensis
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Mammalia › Artiodactyla › Cervidae › Cervus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Coniferous and deciduous forests, alpine meadows, and forest edges.
- Diet
- Herbivorous: grasses, sedges, forbs in summer; woody debris, bark, and buds in winter.
- Range
- North America, Central Asia, East Asia
- Size
- Height: 4-5 feet at shoulder; Weight: 500-1100 lbs; Length: 7-9 feet.
- Lifespan
- 10-13 years in the wild; up to 20 years in captivity.
- Active
- crepuscular
- Threats
- Habitat fragmentation, chronic wasting disease (CWD), and predation by wolves or bears.
- Safe to approach?
- Elk are large and powerful; they are defensive and can be dangerous, especially during the autumn rut or spring calving. Maintain a distance of at least 25 yards. If an elk approaches, back away slowly. If it charges, seek cover behind a sturdy tree or vehicle. In case of injury from a kick or charge, seek immediate medical attention.
The elk ( Cervus canadensis ), also known as the wapiti , is one of the largest species within the deer family, Cervidae, and one of the largest terrestrial mammals in North America, as well as Central and East Asia. It is often confused with the larger Alces alces , which is called moose in North America, but called elk in British English, and related names in other European languages (German Elch , Swedish älg , French élan ). The name "wapiti" is
Photo: Tom Kennedy, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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