1. ELK LATIN NAME: a. Eastern: Cervus elaphus canadensis
b. Rocky Mt: Cervus elaphus nelsoni
SIZE:
a. MALE: lbs, inches at shoulder,
4-5 inch tail
b. FEMALE: lbs

2. COLOR SUMMER: short, thin reddish brown coat WINTER:
a. Long, coarse brownish gray coat
b. Neck, chest, and legs are dark brown
CALVES: born with spots
ALL AGES: whitish rump and tail

3. ID FEATURES - ANTLERS MALES: 4 - 5 ft in length
IN MAY: 2 bumps swell on skull, grow 1/2 inch per day
BEFORE AUTUMN: velvet is shed
YEARLINGS: spikes inches long
ROYAL BULL: 6 tines on each side
IMPERIAL BULL: 7 tines on each side

4. SUMMER: grasses WINTER: grasses, twigs, buds, bark off trees
FOOD SOURCES
SUMMER: grasses
WINTER: grasses, twigs, buds, bark off trees

5. PREFERRED/IMPROVE HABITAT
a. Open grassland mixed with trees
b. Agriculture land
IMPROVE: create openings in forest

6. PREDATORS NATURAL: coyote HUMAN: vehicles and poaching
MOST DEATHS: old age or brainworm

7. REPRODUCTION WHEN: September - October GESTATION: 81/2 months
# YOUNG/LITTER: 1 born May - June
# LITTERS/YEAR: 1
WHERE BORN: anywhere
HAREM: males compete to collect herd of 4 -5 females
CALF: 30 lbs

8. LIFE SPAN & OTHER INFO LIFE SPAN: 20 years MALE: bull FEMALE: cow
BABY ELK: calf
2nd LARGEST: member of deer family in Central & North America
1867: extirpated
: PGC released 177
1931: 98 bulls killed
: hunting season closed

9. OTHER INFO BARK/GRUNT: mothers call calves BUGLE: male mating call
BULLS: spring/summer live separate from cows/calves
RUN: 30 mph for short distance