![]() The North American elk is also called a wapiti, which means "white rear" in the language of the Shawnee Indians, and refers to the distinctive, beige area of fur surrounding the elks tail. The springtime migration of elk may bring together thousands of animals into one massive herd as they seek out green pastures.Įlk range across much of North America, where they once numbered nearly ten million individuals. In the spring, they tend to look a little shabby as the fur falls out and is replaced by their rich, single-layered coppery colored summer coat.Įlk are social animals who live in same-sex herds of 10 to 20 individuals, that are loosely structured, and may come together in much larger groups, particularly as they migrate to higher ground. The adaptable elk also grow double coats for winter time that are lighter in color than their summertime garb, to help them blend in. This is called "chewing cud", and it helps large animals to survive on meager rations. ![]() After the food has mellowed, the rumen sends balls of partially digested food back up to the mouth, where the elk will continue to chew it, before finally swallowing it again. When food is initially swallowed, it is stored for a few hours in the first stomach chamber, called the rumen. They are ruminants, just like cows, and have a four-chambered stomach that allows them to digest lots of vegetation that has little nutritional value.ĭuring winter months, they may strip the bark from trees, and eat moss, twigs and acorns. It is thought that when the elk developed antlers as a weapon, it no longer had a need for the tusks.Įlk are adaptable, tenacious, herbivores that eat a large variety of plants, and can exist in many habitats from deep forest to arid, near-desert conditions. There are small deer species in existence today who still have long tusks, but they don't have antlers. Scientists believe these teeth were once 8 inch long tusks, similar in appearance and direction to those of a walrus. Females and even youngsters of some northern subspecies may also have manes.Įlk also have two large teeth in the upper jaw called ivories, whistlers or buglers. Males grow a huge pair of antlers, and have a mantle of dark fur around the neck. The elk is reddish brown in color, with a beautiful wedge-shaped head, and large, expressive eyes and ears. A mature male elk may stand over 5 and a half feet at the shoulder, and the largest will top nearly 1100 pounds.
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