East of Cascade Range Crest, Oregon and Washington

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Pacific Northwest Research Station
333 SW First Avenue
Portland, OR 97204

(503) 808-2592

| Environment | Fire-Scarred Trees | Structure | Composition | Trees | Animals |

Elk (Cervus elaphus)

	Length and shoulder height	6 ½ - 8 ½ feet long and 4 - 5 feet tall
	Weight	400-1100 lb.; males larger
	How to identify	The feet, neck, and head are dark brown and the rump is yellow-to-orange throughout the year. The golden brown summer coat grows longer in the winter and becomes a grayish brown. Males have antlers that start to appear in the second year and generally reach a maximum of 6 points per side by the fourth year. Shedding occurs in March, begin anew in April, and mature in mid-summer.
	Habitat and food	Elk prefer upland forests and grasslands. In the fall and winter they subsist on woody plants and in the spring and summer they graze upon grasses and sedges.
	Interesting facts	North American elks are closely related to the moose which goes by the name ‘elk’ in Europe. They are also a very noisy deer species. They communicate with barks, chirps, mewing, or bugling.

USDA Forest Service - Pacific Northwest Research Station
Last Modified: Tuesday, 01 March 2005 at 14:39:42 EST