Roosevelt Elk by Jordan

Roosevelt Elk (Wapiti)

Scientific Name:

Cervus elaphus roosevelti

Size:

Height. at shoulder 4½-5'

Length. 8-10'

Weight. males 600-1000 lbs. | females 350-650 lbs.

Characteristics:

Adaptations/Coloration. brown or tan above | darker underparts | rump patch & tail yellowish brown | males dark brown mane on throat

Antlers. males large, many-tined antlers up to 5' | females lack antlers

Behavior:

crepuscular | during rut males rub antlers on saplings & shrubs | antlers used as weapons in fights for females | dig wallows in ground with hooves & antlers

reproduction/life span

Breeding Season. "rut" late Aug-early Oct

Gestation. ~8½ months | cows leave herd to give birth to 1 calf (twins rare)

Calf. 30-35 lbs. | cow & calf return to herd ~1 wk

Diet:

primarily grazers | many plants

habitat/range

coastal & Cascade ranges of Pacific Northwest | summer found in high open mountain meadows | winter lower wooded slopes, often dense woods

Created by JordanMK.

A BIG 'Thank you' to LAwebTek for letting me use his Whitetail Deer as a base for this project.

Updated 2010-11-05

Just to save space with less in zip and smaller image.

Nothing new.