North American Elk

This animal is not part of an Aquarium exhibit, but is rather a wild species that may be seen along the Oregon Coast.

Elk are a large variety of deer, belonging to the same Cervas family, which contains approximately fifteen different species in North America and Europe. They are easily identified from the other common deer species, White Tailed Deer, by their larger size and darker brown coloring. Elk also have yellow tails, slender legs and thick necks. Older males will have a dark brown mane on the throat and beautiful, multi-tiered antlers. Elk are matriarchal, meaning that the herds are generally led by females with the males living separately except during breeding periods. Therefore, an elk herd is generally composed of cows, calves and adolescents which can be either male or female. When the rutting season begins, usually in late-August, males will assemble harems of up to sixty cows. Calves are usually born the following Spring. Elk are primarily nocturnal animals and only become active after dusk. During the days, they usually sleep in depressions they dig in the ground with their hooves or antlers. These depressions are known as “wallows.” The area around the wallows will be saturated by elk urine, which has a very strong musky odor and is the animal’s primary tool for marking territory. Elk are highly prized by sport hunters for both their meat and the antlers of the bucks. Wild predators for elk include cougars, wolves and bears.

Range & Habitat:

Elk range all across the western half North America from British Columbia to Montana. They can be found as far south as New Mexico and Arizona. On the Oregon coast, Elk are found mostly in the coastal mountain range where they graze in open pastures. During the winter, they will retreat to densely wooded areas where they are better sheltered from the elements.

Conservation Status

Common.

Photos: Some photos courtesy of the United State Fish & Wildlife Service and the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife.