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Project Noah Nature School
Cervus canadensis
The elk or wapiti (Cervus canadensis) is one of the largest species of deer in the world, and one of the largest land mammals in North America and eastern Asia. It was long believed to be a subspecies of the European red deer (Cervus elaphus), but evidence from a 2004 study of the mitochondrial DNA indicates that the two are distinct species.
Elk range in forest and forest-edge habitat, feeding on grasses, plants, leaves, and bark. This in was in the Estes Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.
@smcrenshaw, yes, this herd was about 80 members strong. Unfortunately didn't get a shot of the Alpha male, but he was rounding up the females and bugleing, getting ready for the rutting season. This fellow was a little on the outside, maybe building strength to challenge the Alpha male!
Looks like an elk to me. Many areas are working hard to build up their numbers. Good eye.
Spotted on Sep 1, 2012
Submitted on Sep 1, 2012
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