Elk (Wapiti) Cervus canadensis (C. canadensis roosevelti)
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Habitat
Elk, or wapiti, thrive in forest-edge habitat. Elk prefer open woodlands over dense forests, but can also be found in coniferous swamps, clear cuts, and hardwood forests. They migrate to higher altitudes in the spring, and lower altitudes in the fall. In the winter, wooded areas with plenty of tree bark and valleys sheltered from the wind are sought by the elk. Elk enjoy a home range of up to 600 square miles. Once found extensively throughout the Northern Hemisphere, hunting and habitat loss have restricted elk populations to a fraction of their former range. Adaptation |
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Cervidae Genus: Cervus Species: canadensis Total Length: 6-10 ft.
Shoulder Height: 4-5 ft. Tail Length: 4.75-7 in. Weight: 600-1100 lbs. Lifespan: 20 years |
Only the male elk have antlers, and they shed their large antlers annually. The antlers start growing in the spring and can weigh as much as 40 pounds each. Antlers grow up to an inch a day, and the largest antlers can grow up to 4 ft. long with 8-9 tines on each antler. Males use their antlers as part of ritualized mating behaviors, such as bugling, posturing, and sparring to establish dominance over other males and attract females. Testosterone drives the growth and retention of antlers, and after the breeding season hormone levels drop and the antlers are eventually shed.
Elk are even-toed ungulates, like camels, goats, and cattle. They are ruminants, with a four-chambered stomach, and feed on grasses, plants, leaves, and bark. Elk coats have a reddish hue, and buff colored rump patches, but range in tone from dark brown to tan. Shaggier hair adorns the neck and chest.
Social animals by nature, elk can live in matriarchal herds of up to 400. During mating season, bulls form harems of about 6 females. Elk communicate through their keen senses of smell, hearing, vision, and touch.
Elk are even-toed ungulates, like camels, goats, and cattle. They are ruminants, with a four-chambered stomach, and feed on grasses, plants, leaves, and bark. Elk coats have a reddish hue, and buff colored rump patches, but range in tone from dark brown to tan. Shaggier hair adorns the neck and chest.
Social animals by nature, elk can live in matriarchal herds of up to 400. During mating season, bulls form harems of about 6 females. Elk communicate through their keen senses of smell, hearing, vision, and touch.
Niche
Primary predators of elk include wolf and coyote packs, or solitary cougars, and occasionally brown and black bears. While males have them, antlers can be used as a means of defense against predators, as can a front-leg kick. Females form large herds to protect newborns, and keep watch for each other.
Elk feed mostly during mornings and evenings, and seek sheltered areas in between. Elk consume about 20 lbs. of food daily, including grasses, sedges, cedar, hemlock, pine, sumac, maple, dandelion, aster, hawkweed, violets, clover, roots, leaves, tubers, stems, cranberry, elderberry, highbrush, devil's club, blueberry, salmonberry, bryophytes, lichens, and fungus. Like all ruminants, elk regurgitate their food and masticate it again to aid in digestion.
Primary predators of elk include wolf and coyote packs, or solitary cougars, and occasionally brown and black bears. While males have them, antlers can be used as a means of defense against predators, as can a front-leg kick. Females form large herds to protect newborns, and keep watch for each other.
Elk feed mostly during mornings and evenings, and seek sheltered areas in between. Elk consume about 20 lbs. of food daily, including grasses, sedges, cedar, hemlock, pine, sumac, maple, dandelion, aster, hawkweed, violets, clover, roots, leaves, tubers, stems, cranberry, elderberry, highbrush, devil's club, blueberry, salmonberry, bryophytes, lichens, and fungus. Like all ruminants, elk regurgitate their food and masticate it again to aid in digestion.
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