Elk
Elk Bugling in the River Mist
© Jess Lee Photography
The American elk, or wapiti, Cervus canadensis, is a member of the deer family, Cervidae, order Artiodactyla. It is considered by many authorities to be the same species as the European red deer, C. elaphus. Elk weigh up to 350 kg (770 lb), stand 1.5 m (5 ft) high at the shoulders, and may be 2.4 m (8 ft) long. Males have antlers that may span more than 1.5 m (5 ft). The coat is grayish brown, with a white patch on the rump. Elk have lost much of their habiat and are now found only in southern Canada, parts of Alaska, the Rockies, and in the Central Valley of California, the last being the home of the small tule elk. In Europe, the name elk has long referred solely to the moose.
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