Roosevelt Elk
(Cervus elaphus canadensis)
Classification
and Range
Roosevelt elk belong to the order Artiodactyla
and the family Cervidae. There is not yet consensus on
whether elk and the Eurasian red deer are a single species.
To make it more confusing, Europeans commonly refer to
moose as "elk," while they call North American
elk "wapiti." The name "wapiti" comes
from Shawnee and means "white rump." In the
Olympic Mountains of Washington state, scientist C. Merriam
Hart studied elk and named that subspecies for Theodore
Roosevelt. Elk roam through western North America, Europe
and central Asia. Before the 1900s, North American elk
populations ranged over most of the continent. Of the
original six subspecies of North American elk, only four
remain and reside between the Rocky Mountains and the
Pacific Ocean.
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Female Roosevelt Elk
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Habitat
Currently,
Roosevelt elk inhabit Pacific coastal rain forests and mountains, as
well as the western slopes of the Cascade Mountains. This subspecies
also lives on the Alaskan islands, where they summer above timberline
and winter in dense spruce forests, in lower valleys or on the beaches.
Seasonal requirements of food, water, shelter and reproductive activity
affect elk migration. During summer, elk may move upland to snow fields,
to areas of stronger breezes or into water. Mountainous winter conditions
of snow, flood, or rain drive elk to lower elevations.
Physical
Characteristics
Roosevelt elk are the largest of North American elk, with a powerful
physique that enables them to swim, break through deep snow and climb
into high elevations. Adult male elk (bulls) average 875 pounds (398
kg). Adult female elk (cows) average 700 pounds (318 kg). Mature
bulls average 5 feet (1.5 m) tall at the shoulder and 8-9 feet (2.4
-2.7 m) in length.
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Range
Map
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The
antlers of Roosevelt elk are thick and have vertical points, with a
distinctive crown or three-point tip. Their antlers average 4 feet
(1.2 m) in length. Research reports huge racks up to 6 feet (1.8 m)
long and weighing 40 pounds (18 kg).
Coloration of Roosevelt elk is darker than other elk. They have a dark
brown to black neck, light brown to tan body, and beige to white rump
patch. Elk replace their coats twice yearly. In the spring, they produce
a lighter, reddish summer coat; in the autumn, their coat is darker and
denser for winter. Life
Span
Females average 19-21 years, males average 16 years. In captivity, elk live 18-22
years.
Diet
In the wild: Elk eat high quantity, low quality
and varied diet of plants, such as grasses, shrubs, herbs, saplings
and bark. They tend to focus on three or four key plants.
At
the zoo: Keepers feed them herbivore pellets, carrots, yams,
apples, romaine and alfalfa hay. The elk also eat the grass and leaves
in their exhibit.
Reproduction "In
a Rut"
Females
reach sexual maturity around two years, while males take three to four
years. Young bulls rarely have a chance to mate, since mature bulls 7 to
10 years old dominate the reproductive scene. During rut season in September
to October, testosterone levels in bulls rise dramatically and they fight
to gain breeding access to females. Fights consist of clashing antlers,
while driving the opponent back and forth.
Meanwhile,
females quietly feed and seem uninterested in all this activity; they
eventually favor bulls with large antlers. The successful bull acquires
a "harem" of cows. He diligently herds, mates and keeps other bulls
from the harem.
Life
Cycle
In late spring or early summer, after a gestation period of 8
1/2 months, the female moves away from the herd. She gives birth to a single
calf that weighs an average of 33 pounds (15 kg). The calf nurses intensively
for 2 1/2 months and grows rapidly, doubling its weight within two weeks
of birth. Elk calves remain hidden for the first few weeks and instinctively "drop
and freeze" when faced with danger. By mid-summer, groups of calves and
their mothers rejoin the herd.
Elk
herds consist of females and their offspring, in groups of 20-30 individuals.
Elk spend much of their day seeking, eating, and digesting food with
main feeding times at dawn and dusk. Adult males live alone or in small
male groups, except during rut, when they join female herds.
Elk
in History
For Native Americans, elk provided food, clothing, bone implements, weapons,
sources of spiritualism, and items for decoration or trade. The journals of
Lewis and Clark contain at least 570 references to elk. Their expedition depended
on elk meat during their 1805-6 winter spent along the Pacific coast. Elk skin
provided the explorers with clothing and footwear for their return trip.
Location
at the Zoo
The zoo's Roosevelt elk live in the award-winning Northern Trail exhibit. The
best viewing spots are behind the gray wolf exhibit near the entrance to the
Northern Trail , and at the end of the boardwalk past the eagle exhibit.
Conservation
Connection
Elk play an important conservation role in old growth forests. They clear impenetrable
tangles of vegetation in the forest understory. This enables a wide variety
of plants and animals to flourish, while simultaneously promoting a dependable
food supply for the elk.
While
not listed as endangered, elk face many dangers. Their natural predators
include cougars and gray wolves. Predators usually kill young and old
elk. Disease, starvation and winter hardships also kill elk. An estimated
10 million elk lived in North America before the 1500s, but their population
dwindled to less than 100,000 by 1907. Hunters targeted elk for trophy
antlers, elk "ivory" and meat. Elk antlers are also collected or stolen,
then ground up and sold as traditional Asian medicines. Road building
and logging decreases habitat for elk, and provides hunters easier
access to elk. In 1904, the original name proposed for the Olympic
National Park was "Elk National Park." The primary goal of the park
was to rescue elk herds from near extinction. In the 1990s, a census
therein estimated the park population at 5,000. Throughout North America,
elk populations have increased to sustainable levels from near extinction
at the end of the 1900s.
How
You Can Help!
The effort to save mammals requires cooperation and support at the regional,
national and international levels. You can help in this cause. Join and become
active in a conservation organization of your choice. Don’t buy products
made from wild animal parts. Tell your elected representatives on the national,
state and local levels about the importance of preserving wild habitats and
endangered species.
Contact Woodland Park Zoo at webkeeper@zoo.org about
supporting conservation programs at the zoo. Learn other ways you can help
conserve wildlife and habitats by visiting our How
You Can Help page.
Sources and Suggested Reading
Bauer, Erwin A. 1995. Elk: Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation. Voyageur
Press. Stillwater, MN.Moorhead, Bruce B. 1994.
The
Forest Elk: Roosevelt Elk in Olympic National Park. Hindy's
Enterprise, Hong Kong. Thomas, Jack Ward & Dale E.
Toweill,
eds. 1982. Elk of North America: Ecology and Management. Stackpole
Books. Harrisburg, PA.
For Kids!
Guiberson, Brenda Z. 1997. Teddy Roosevelt's Elk,
Henry Holt & Co. New York, NY.
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