Elk

Scientific Name: Cervus canadensis

Habitat: Some live on the eastern plains, but the majority of the elk in Colorado live in the mountains.*

Diet: Elk are grazers, eating mostly grass (when available).* The summer diet of elk consists of 80-90% grass.* Elk eat bark and twigs from trees and shrubs in the winter and in really severe weather, they may find a haystack.*

Coloration: The body is a brownish tan, with a yellowish rump.* All elk have a dark brown mane on their shoulders and neck.* Mature males have large tanish antlers that usually have 6 tines branching off the "main" antler* (look at the picture for an example of a 6x6).

Mating: Mating ends by mid-October and after a gestation period of 8 1/2 months, a spotted calf is born in May or June.* Females breed for the first time at age 3 yrs., males at age 4 yrs.* Bulls (males) rut in the fall for a group (harem) of several cows (females).*

Fun Facts: Elk are the largest members of the deer family in North America.* The common name for these animals is "elk" in this country, but the preferred name is "wapiti" because other countries refer to moose as "elk".* The wapiti live in North America and Eurasia (a Holartic species), where they are know as red deer.*

Source:

*http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/Profiles/Mammals/Elk.htm