Yellowstone

The elk or wapiti (Cervus canadensis) is one of the largest species of deer in the world and one of the largest land mammals in North America and eastern Asia.

Elk range in forest and forest-edge habitat, feeding on grasses, plants, leaves and bark.

Male elk have large antlers which are shed each year. Males also engage in ritualized mating behaviors during the rut, including posturing, antler wrestling and bugling, a loud series of vocalizations which establishes dominance over other males and attracts females.

Elk are more than twice as heavy as mule deer and have a more reddish hue to their hair coloring, as well as large, buff colored rump patches and smaller tails.

Elk gather in herds and an elk cows average 225 kilograms, stand 1.3 m at the shoulder and are 2 m from nose to tail. Bulls are some 40% larger than cows at maturity, weighing an average of 320 kilograms, standing 1.5 m at the shoulder and averaging 2.5 m in length.

Only the males have antlers, which start growing in the spring and are shed each winter. Antlers are made of bone which can grow at a rate of 2.5 centimetres per day. While actively growing, the antlers are covered with and protected by a soft layer of highly vascularised skin known as velvet.

Location: Yellowstone

Photographer © Karin Van Couwenberg

The elk or wapiti (Cervus canadensis) is one of the largest species of deer in the world and one of the largest land mammals in North America and eastern Asia.

Elk range in forest and forest-edge habitat, feeding on grasses, plants, leaves and bark.

Male elk have large antlers which are shed each year. Males also engage in ritualized mating behaviors during the rut, including posturing, antler wrestling and bugling, a loud series of vocalizations which establishes dominance over other males and attracts females.

Elk are more than twice as heavy as mule deer and have a more reddish hue to their hair coloring, as well as large, buff colored rump patches and smaller tails.

Elk gather in herds and an elk cows average 225 kilograms, stand 1.3 m at the shoulder and are 2 m from nose to tail. Bulls are some 40% larger than cows at maturity, weighing an average of 320 kilograms, standing 1.5 m at the shoulder and averaging 2.5 m in length.

Only the males have antlers, which start growing in the spring and are shed each winter. Antlers are made of bone which can grow at a rate of 2.5 centimetres per day. While actively growing, the antlers are covered with and protected by a soft layer of highly vascularised skin known as velvet.

Location: Yellowstone

Photographer © Karin Van Couwenberg