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The North American '''elk''' or ''wapiti'' (''Cervus canadensis'') is one of the largest [[species]] of [[deer]] in [[North America]] and eastern [[Asia]]. Among members of the deer [[family]], only [[moose]] are larger. Elk once roamed free throughout that part of North America that includes the [[United States]]. Today elk are limited largely to the Rocky Mountain region, and to certain other regions where State authorities and interested conservationists have re-introduced it.

The North American '''elk''' or ''wapiti'' (''Cervus canadensis'') is one of the largest [[species]] of [[deer]] in [[North America]] and eastern [[Asia]]. Among members of the deer [[family]], only [[moose]] are larger. Elk once roamed free throughout that part of North America that includes the [[United States]]. Today elk are limited largely to the Rocky Mountain region, and to certain other regions where State authorities and interested conservationists have re-introduced it.

== Name and etymology ==

==Name and etymology==

The name ''elk'' comes from the [[Latin]] ''alces'', the original common name for the animal called [[moose]] in North America. The earliest European explorers, when they first saw these creatures, called them ''alke'', the then-current form of the name for moose. With the discovery of the American variety of moose, confusion reigned, but the name ''alke'' or ''elk'' was already established.

The name ''elk'' comes from the [[Latin]] ''alces'', the original common name for the animal called [[moose]] in North America. The earliest European explorers, when they first saw these creatures, called them ''alke'', the then-current form of the name for moose. With the discovery of the American variety of moose, confusion reigned, but the name ''alke'' or ''elk'' was already established.

Most zoologists use the Shawnee name ''wapiti'', which means "white rump," a reference to the light-colored patch on the posterior of all elk.<ref name=Keck1>Keck, Stu. "[http://www.bowhunting.net/NAspecies/elk1.html Elk Subspecies and Distribution]." <http://www.bowhunting.net/>, n.d. Accessed September 29, 2008.</ref>

Most zoologists use the Shawnee name ''wapiti'', which means "white rump," a reference to the light-colored patch on the posterior of all elk.<ref name=Keck1>Keck, Stu. "[http://www.bowhunting.net/NAspecies/elk1.html Elk Subspecies and Distribution]." <http://www.bowhunting.net/>, n.d. Accessed September 29, 2008.</ref>

== Taxonomy ==

==Taxonomy==

Until 2004, elk were considered a subspecies of the red deer (''Cervus elaphus''). But mitochondrial DNA surveys have now established that the North American elk was never a subspecies of the red deer and in fact has more in common with other members of the [[genus]] [[Cervus]] than with the red deer.<ref name=Ludt>Ludt CJ, Schroeder W, Roffman O, and Kuehn R. "Mitochondrial DNA phylogeography of red deer ''(Cervus elaphus)''." ''Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution'' 31(3):1064-1083, June 2004. {{doi|10.1016/j.ympev.2003.10.003}} Accessed September 29, 2008.</ref>

Until 2004, elk were considered a subspecies of the red deer (''Cervus elaphus''). But mitochondrial DNA surveys have now established that the North American elk was never a subspecies of the red deer and in fact has more in common with other members of the [[genus]] [[Cervus]] than with the red deer.<ref name=Ludt>Ludt CJ, Schroeder W, Roffman O, and Kuehn R. "Mitochondrial DNA phylogeography of red deer ''(Cervus elaphus)''." ''Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution'' 31(3):1064-1083, June 2004. {{doi|10.1016/j.ympev.2003.10.003}} Accessed September 29, 2008.</ref>

# Tule elk (''Cervus cannodes''), a "dwarf species" native to some wetland regions of central [[California]]

# Tule elk (''Cervus cannodes''), a "dwarf species" native to some wetland regions of central [[California]]

== Anatomy and Physiology ==

==Anatomy and Physiology==

=== Body habitus ===

===Body habitus===

An adult bull elk weighs between 700 and 1200 pounds, stands five feet at the shoulder, and is 8 feet long from nose to tail. The cow weighs 500 pounds, stands four and a half feet at the shoulder, and is six and one-half feet from nose to tail.<ref name=rmeffaq/>

An adult bull elk weighs between 700 and 1200 pounds, stands five feet at the shoulder, and is 8 feet long from nose to tail. The cow weighs 500 pounds, stands four and a half feet at the shoulder, and is six and one-half feet from nose to tail.<ref name=rmeffaq/>

=== Digestion and Diet ===

===Digestion and Diet===

Like all deer, elk are ruminants. Their stomachs have four chambers; one chamber stores food and the other three complete its digestion. In addition, elk can change their diet readily to adapt to changing food availability.<ref name=keck2>Keck, Stu. "[http://www.bowhunting.net/NAspecies/elk2.html Elk Anatomy and Physiology]." <http://www.bowhunting.net/>, n.d. Accessed September 29, 2008.</ref> Elk prefer to graze rather than browse. Their favorite foods include [[wheat]], [[buckwheat]], [[rye]], [[clover]], [[oat]]s, timothy, and birds-foot trefoil.

Like all deer, elk are ruminants. Their stomachs have four chambers; one chamber stores food and the other three complete its digestion. In addition, elk can change their diet readily to adapt to changing food availability.<ref name=keck2>Keck, Stu. "[http://www.bowhunting.net/NAspecies/elk2.html Elk Anatomy and Physiology]." <http://www.bowhunting.net/>, n.d. Accessed September 29, 2008.</ref> Elk prefer to graze rather than browse. Their favorite foods include [[wheat]], [[buckwheat]], [[rye]], [[clover]], [[oat]]s, timothy, and birds-foot trefoil.

=== Fur color ===

===Fur color===

Elk are colored multiple shades of brown and tan, with an emphasis on contrast. The head is dark brown, and the body varies in color from light to pale yellow. The hindquarters have the characteristic off-white color that gives the elk its Shawnee name; a black line surrounds this region. The neck and throat are covered with a mane of long, dark hair.

Elk are colored multiple shades of brown and tan, with an emphasis on contrast. The head is dark brown, and the body varies in color from light to pale yellow. The hindquarters have the characteristic off-white color that gives the elk its Shawnee name; a black line surrounds this region. The neck and throat are covered with a mane of long, dark hair.

Elk grow a rich coat of fur with the approach of winter and shed this coat in the springtime.

Elk grow a rich coat of fur with the approach of winter and shed this coat in the springtime.

=== Musculo-skeletal system ===

===Musculo-skeletal system===

The skeleton of elk is typical of that of other large deer. The males, or bulls, are the only [[gender]] having antlers. Each year they grow some of the most impressive antlers in all the deer kind. A bull sheds its antlers in the winter, and regrows them beginning in the spring. Each year they are more complex. Antlers confer social status and are potent weapons of defense.

The skeleton of elk is typical of that of other large deer. The males, or bulls, are the only [[gender]] having antlers. Each year they grow some of the most impressive antlers in all the deer kind. A bull sheds its antlers in the winter, and regrows them beginning in the spring. Each year they are more complex. Antlers confer social status and are potent weapons of defense.

The bones of elk limbs have a double-pulley arrangement called the ''astragalus''. With this arrangement, the bones can move in a single plane and thus are much more efficient.<ref name=Fagan/> In addition, an elk hoof has four digits, two to grip with and the other two to support their weight. An elk can achieve a top speed of 35 miles per hour.<ref name=Brunner>Brunner, Melissa. "[http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/critter/mammal/elk.htm Elk]." "Environmental Education for Kids", Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, n.d. Accessed September 29, 2008.</ref>

The bones of elk limbs have a double-pulley arrangement called the ''astragalus''. With this arrangement, the bones can move in a single plane and thus are much more efficient.<ref name=Fagan/> In addition, an elk hoof has four digits, two to grip with and the other two to support their weight. An elk can achieve a top speed of 35 miles per hour.<ref name=Brunner>Brunner, Melissa. "[http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/critter/mammal/elk.htm Elk]." "Environmental Education for Kids", Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, n.d. Accessed September 29, 2008.</ref>

== Reproduction ==

==Reproduction==

Elk are mammalian. The females, or cows, carry their young (calves; singular: calf) within their bodies and nurse them after they are born. The gestation period is eight and one-half months; calving time takes place in May or June. Calves are born with spotted fur and are almost all singletons, though twinning rarely occurs. The typical nursing period lasts for nine months. A typical newborn calf will weigh 35 pounds.<ref name=wdfw>Link, Russell. "[http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/living/elk.htm Entry for Elk]." ''Living with Wildlife in the Pacific Northwest'', Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 2008. Accessed September 29, 2008.</ref>

Elk are mammalian. The females, or cows, carry their young (calves; singular: calf) within their bodies and nurse them after they are born. The gestation period is eight and one-half months; calving time takes place in May or June. Calves are born with spotted fur and are almost all singletons, though twinning rarely occurs. The typical nursing period lasts for nine months. A typical newborn calf will weigh 35 pounds.<ref name=wdfw>Link, Russell. "[http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/living/elk.htm Entry for Elk]." ''Living with Wildlife in the Pacific Northwest'', Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 2008. Accessed September 29, 2008.</ref>

A successful bull will gather to himself an often sizeable herd, or harem, of cows, some with their calves. Other bulls will challenge him for his harem, usually through their custom of bugling (see below). Usually the ranking bull need do little more than display his vastly superior antlers to convince the challenger to withdraw. Rarely will a challenger actually join battle with another bull that has him seriously overmatched. But two evenly matched bulls will fight, sometimes to the death.<ref name=rmeffaq/> Often a bull will win a "Pyrrhic victory": he might win, but at the cost of severe-enough injury to make him vulnerable to defeat in the next challenge that he receives and accepts, or infection of his many wounds.

A successful bull will gather to himself an often sizable herd, or harem, of cows, some with their calves. Other bulls will challenge him for his harem, usually through their custom of bugling (see below). Usually the ranking bull need do little more than display his vastly superior antlers to convince the challenger to withdraw. Rarely will a challenger actually join battle with another bull that has him seriously overmatched. But two evenly matched bulls will fight, sometimes to the death.<ref name=rmeffaq/> Often a bull will win a "Pyrrhic victory": he might win, but at the cost of severe-enough injury to make him vulnerable to defeat in the next challenge that he receives and accepts, or infection of his many wounds.

The bull elk's most distinctive habit during reproductive season, or "rut," is the ''bugle call'', or ''bugling''. The voice of an elk sounds very much like a flute. A bull elk sounds his bugle call either to attract cows, to challenge another bull for control of his harem, or to warn other bulls to stay clear.

The bull elk's most distinctive habit during reproductive season, or "rut," is the ''bugle call'', or ''bugling''. The voice of an elk sounds very much like a flute. A bull elk sounds his bugle call either to attract cows, to challenge another bull for control of his harem, or to warn other bulls to stay clear.

== Ecology ==

==Ecology==

Elk today are found in [[North America]] (specifically the western [[United States]] and in some eastern States where authorities have re-introduced it) and in eastern [[Asia]]. Elk might well have crossed from Siberia into North America either with the first Amerindian peoples or before their migration.

Elk today are found in [[North America]] (specifically the western [[United States]] and in some eastern States where authorities have re-introduced it) and in eastern [[Asia]]. Elk might well have crossed from Siberia into North America either with the first Amerindian peoples or before their migration.

Chronic wasting disease is the form of [[prion disease]] peculiar to the deer family. Elk are no exception. Prion disease remains a serious problem in the native lands of the Rocky Mountain elk. It has not spread east of the Mississippi thus far.

Chronic wasting disease is the form of [[prion disease]] peculiar to the deer family. Elk are no exception. Prion disease remains a serious problem in the native lands of the Rocky Mountain elk. It has not spread east of the Mississippi thus far.

== Habits ==

==Habits==

Elk are social animals. The cows gather in herds during most of the year, except that cows prefer to give birth in solitude. Bulls tend to travel alone or in bachelor groups, except during the rut. Bulls will challenge or fight with one another during rut but not in other seasons. The oldest cows tend to lead the herds, except during rut when the bulls lead.<ref name=wdfw/>

Elk are social animals. The cows gather in herds during most of the year, except that cows prefer to give birth in solitude. Bulls tend to travel alone or in bachelor groups, except during the rut. Bulls will challenge or fight with one another during rut but not in other seasons. The oldest cows tend to lead the herds, except during rut when the bulls lead.<ref name=wdfw/>

Elk are at their most active at dusk and at dawn. In very hot weather, elk will be more active at night. Witnesses have heard elk bugling at all hours of the night during the rut.

Elk are at their most active at dusk and at dawn. In very hot weather, elk will be more active at night. Witnesses have heard elk bugling at all hours of the night during the rut.

== Cultural uses ==

==Cultural uses==

When elk were plentiful, people of all cultures once hunted them for food and used their hides for clothing and, in Native American cultures, blankets. Modern hunters kill elk for their meat, preserve the antlers as trophies, and often use the canine teeth, or ivories, for jewelry. Most jurisdictions allow people to collect fallen antlers, and many of these are used for ornamental purposes.<ref name=rmeffaq/>

When elk were plentiful, people of all cultures once hunted them for food and used their hides for clothing and, in Native American cultures, blankets. Modern hunters kill elk for their meat, preserve the antlers as trophies, and often use the canine teeth, or ivories, for jewelry. Most jurisdictions allow people to collect fallen antlers, and many of these are used for ornamental purposes.<ref name=rmeffaq/>

== Gallery ==

==Gallery==

<gallery>

<gallery>

Image:ElkSummer.jpg|A bull elk, his antlers covered with velvet, feeds on grass in high summer.

Image:ElkSummer.jpg|A bull elk, his antlers covered with velvet, feeds on grass in high summer.

</gallery>

</gallery>

== References ==

==References==

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{{reflist|2}}