General Characteristics
The elk or wapiti is one of the largest species of deer in the world and are almost identical to the European Red Deer. The body is slender and is carried by long legs. The neck is long and thin and the head graceful. Males are considerable larger and more heavily built than the females. The Coat is Longer and dark reddish brown around the neck and face with the rest of the body a light to medium tan. Only stags have antlers. The antlers are used by the males when fighting with each other for access to females during the annual mating season or rut. The antlers are lost after the rut each January, but males begin to grow a new set almost immediately
Distribution
The elk has one of the most widespread distribution ranges of any species of deer. They are found across a broad swath of temperate forest across Europe and Asia where they are often called Red Deer, and into North America. They are also the only species of deer to be found in Africa, a small population living in the Atlas Mountains
Ecology and Behavior
The American Elk is a social animal and spends most of its life living in herds. There are separate stag 'bachelor' herds and female herds. Males and females lead separate lives for much of the year, only coming together during the annual mating season. The female herds are made up of small family units of a female and her young. Within the female groups there is a strict dominance hierarchy, with one female being the boss. Dominant animals decide where the herd will go and where it will feed. Red Deer are rather sedentary in behavior and do not migrate or move around to any great extent. Most feeding takes place during the early mornings and late evenings, while the middle of the day is used for resting and digesting food.
Family Group: Single sexed groups
Diet: grasses, plants, leaves and bark
Main Predators: Wolves and bears
The elk or wapiti is one of the largest species of deer in the world and are almost identical to the European Red Deer. The body is slender and is carried by long legs. The neck is long and thin and the head graceful. Males are considerable larger and more heavily built than the females. The Coat is Longer and dark reddish brown around the neck and face with the rest of the body a light to medium tan. Only stags have antlers. The antlers are used by the males when fighting with each other for access to females during the annual mating season or rut. The antlers are lost after the rut each January, but males begin to grow a new set almost immediately
Distribution
The elk has one of the most widespread distribution ranges of any species of deer. They are found across a broad swath of temperate forest across Europe and Asia where they are often called Red Deer, and into North America. They are also the only species of deer to be found in Africa, a small population living in the Atlas Mountains
Ecology and Behavior
The American Elk is a social animal and spends most of its life living in herds. There are separate stag 'bachelor' herds and female herds. Males and females lead separate lives for much of the year, only coming together during the annual mating season. The female herds are made up of small family units of a female and her young. Within the female groups there is a strict dominance hierarchy, with one female being the boss. Dominant animals decide where the herd will go and where it will feed. Red Deer are rather sedentary in behavior and do not migrate or move around to any great extent. Most feeding takes place during the early mornings and late evenings, while the middle of the day is used for resting and digesting food.
Family Group: Single sexed groups
Diet: grasses, plants, leaves and bark
Main Predators: Wolves and bears