Rocky Mountain Elk

Rocky Mountain Elk (cervis canadensis)
Photographs and facts about wild, rocky mountain elk.

Rocky Mountain Elk - Wapiti - North American Elk

Rocky Mountain elk Cervus Canadensis - Wapiti or Waapiti - Shawnee and Cree word meaning “white rump.” Elk are ungulates (hooved animals) eat mainly grass but some shrubs and bark, and are a member of the deer family. Only Males have antlers. Their antlers are cast every year in late winter or early spring when the growth of the new antler helps remove the old. Elk occupy territory mainly in the western United States, although small herds are spread across almost every US state. There are some large herds in Canada, mainly in the west, and even Alaska and the Yukon have elk.

Bull elk have an unmistakable call, referred to as a “bugle.” If you’ve ever heard it you’ll never forget it.

A young bull elk bugles back at another bull elk. The unmistakable sound of a bull elk bugling.

There are two species of elk found in the United States. Roosevelt, found along the west coast from Canada to California, and Rocky Mountain Elk, found inland, east of the Cascade Mountain Crest. Estimates suggest there are easily a million elk in the United States. While one million elk sound like a significant number, historically, before European settlement, there were said to be ten times more elk. Ten million elk once occupied North America and were mostly found on the great plains. Elk are plains animals, but today are found mainly in the rugged mountainous region of the west. Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Arizona, Parts of New Mexico, and Arizona are considered “elk” states.

Elk Photographs.