Elk (Wapiti)

Description:

Elk belong to the deer family. Large bulls may weigh 800 lbs and have large antlers, which are shed annually. Cows are smaller and are without antlers. Both sexes are tawny brown with darker necks and legs and tan rumps. This bull is just growing his antlers and they are in velvet, a soft skin/fur that nourishes the growing bone. Towards late summer, the bone hardens and the velvet is stripped off in mock battles with bushes and trees.

Habitat:

Forested edges, grasslands (originally), and mountain forests.