Elk
Cervus elaphus

Description - The Elk is the second largest member of the deer family with slender legs, a thick neck and is coloured brown or tan with darker underparts. The antlers, only grown by males, are large with many tines, the main beam up to 150 cm long.

Distribution - The Elk occurs in high, open mountain pastures in summer and lower, wooded slopes or dense woods in the winter. They are most abundant along the western side of the rockies but they also can be found near Golden, Bush River, Forest Lake, Lucerne area, Seebach Creek, Pear River area, and Tuchodi Lake area.

Biology - This nocturnal creature is primarily a grazer feeding on woody vegetation and lichen. Once the velvet of his antlers has been discarded, the bull begins assembling his harem of up to 60 cows. The gestation period is 255-275 days. The Elk's main predator is the mountain lion and sometimes bears get the young.

Tracks - The track of an elk is larger and rounder than that of a deer and somewhat rounder and smaller than that of a moose. Look for blackened, rough bark on aspen trees to distinguish the elks habitat.

Straddle: 20 cm (8 in)
Stride: 65 - 70 cm (26 - 28 in)
Track: 10 cm (4 in) long / 7.5 cm (3 in) wide