Colorado’s Magnificent Rocky Mountain Elk

There are currently four subspecies of Elk in North America, the Rocky Mountain Elk, Roosevelt Elk, Tule Elk and Manitoban Elk, two other species have become extinct. Elk or Wapiti are one of the largest species of deer in the world. They are native to North America and Eastern Asia and their meat is leaner and higher in protein than beef or chicken and it is also lower in fat and cholesterol than beef, pork and chicken.

From hunters to wildlife viewers in Estes Park most every person has seen the Rocky Mountain Elk in Colorado. Males, females, babies and yearling bulls are also called bulls, cows, calves and spikes, respectively. Elk are about two times bigger than mule deer and have large brown and tan bodies, dark brown necks and rumps that are light tan almost yellow. Males will grow antlers and during the winter time after mating season they will lose the antlers. During the winter a thick coat of hair will keep the insulated and this coat is grown before winter in the fall. The bulls in Colorado can weigh as much as 900 but usually average around 710 pounds and the cows average around 500 pounds. Located in the Pacific Northwest the Roosevelt Elk weigh as much as 1100 pounds which makes them the biggest of the elk species. Elk found only in California are the Tule Elk who are the smallest and can weigh 550 pounds. Rocky Mountain Elk have larger antlers and smaller sized bodies than the Manitoban Elk who are in the Midwestern US and in Canadian Prairie provinces.

During mating season, also considered the rut, males will call or bugle to convey power to competing bulls and also more directly to the females who are seeking dominance from a male they wish to mate. Besides using the bugle bulls will also wallow in urine and mud to scent themselves up to attract groups of cows and calves together called harems. Antler battling to the death is possible when males are in defense mode for their harem.

The average lifespan of an elk is 10 to 13 years however captive elk have lived longer. Grazing on grasses, leaves, plants and bark these herbivores have a four chambered stomach to help with the digestion. During the night evenings and mornings Elk are usually the most active. In the summer they can eat up to 20 pounds per day and will feed constantly.

Before the European settlers there has been estimated that there was more than ten million elk that roamed everywhere in the US and parts of Canada. Current estimates for North America are around one million with Colorado having the largest population, with close to 300 thousand elk. Colorado also holds the largest number of harvested elk with around 40-50 thousand each year. Elk are now found in very mountainous and heavily forested areas from the open plains where they once roamed freely. They are extremely adaptive creatures and have lived in many different types of habitats.

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