Utah State Mammal
Rocky Mountain Elk (common name) Cervus canadensis nelsoni (scientific name) Overview One of the largest species of deer, the Rocky Mountain elk is a majestic alpine animal. Elk are very big game highly prized by sportsmen. The elk is an extremely powerful cultural symbol to Native American tribes of the western U.S. as well. Cave drawings of elk were carved into cliffs thousands of years ago by the Anasazi people in the American southwest. To the Lakota people, the elk symbolized longevity, and males were given an elk's tooth to promote their long life and sexual prowess. An Apache creation myth describes how a giant elk created the Rocky Mountains by tearing up the earth with its antlers. The Cree, Blackfeet, Ojibwa, and Pawnee tribes produce blankets and robes from elk hides. The state of Utah declared the elk the state mammal in 1971. Close-up STATUS Official ALSO KNOWN AS Waapiti (Shawnee) PHYSICAL DETAILS Light brown with a darker mane and a white rump. Male elk have an enormous rack of antlers that they shed each year.    Males Females Size Male height including antlers: up to 9 ft (2.7 m); height at the shoulder: 4–5 ft (1.2–1.5 m) Height at the shoulder: 4–5 ft (1.2–1.5 m) Weight Up to 1,100 lbs (500 kg); average of 450 lbs (200 kg) Up to 1,100 lbs (500 kg); average of 450 lbs (200 kg) LIFESPAN Up to 15 years in the wild and 20 years in captivity. Average of 10 years in the wild. HABITAT Rocky, high altitude, alpine areas. Range: The Pacific Northwest region of the U.S. and Canada. In East Asia, a genetically similar species ranges from China's Xinjiang Province in western China to the Korean Peninsula. Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC) BEHAVIOR During the mating season, males rut by sparring with their antlers to establish dominance over other males and making a loud series of "bugling" calls to attract females. The clashes between the males determine who gets to mate and older males with bigger antlers typically win these battles. After the rut, females form large herds of up to 50 individuals. These "gangs" of female elk protect the newborn calves by keeping them close for almost a year in these communal herds. Elk migrate to lower altitude areas in the fall before the winter snows and to higher altitudes in the spring as the snows retreat. Top land speed recorded: 45 mph (72.4 kph) DIET Native grasses are eaten year-round. During the summer, flowers and tree sprouts are added to the diet and in the winter, elk will eat tree bark. Elk consume an average of 20 pounds (9.1 kg) of various foodstuffs daily.  OFFSPRING Breeding interval: Once per year Birthing period: Early summer Average litter size: 1 Size at birth: 33 to 35 lbs (15–16 kg) TRIVIA Elk are hunted as a game species for sport and their meat. Their meat is leaner and higher in protein than chicken or beef. The Shawnee word waapiti, meaning "white rump," is also used to describe the elk. A fraternal association in the U.S., the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, is named after the animal. The choice reflects nationalism (the elk was considered a distinctively American animal) and respect for the majesty of the large animal.
	Click to enlarge an image Rocky Mountain Elk Female Rocky Mountain Elk Juvenile Rocky Mountain Elk Bull Elk Bugling During the Rut CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Cervidae Genus: Cervus Species: C. canadensis
	Data Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Author: World Trade Press