Jeannie's Cottage is home to a number of
Elk. These Elk include Eddie the Elk from Douglas Cuddle
Toys (far left), Cascade Toys Elk next to him in back,
and in front is an Itsy Bitsy Elk from Wild Republic and
an Elk from The Stuffed Animal House. Some of these Elk are in
the Gift Shop.
Elk -- Wapiti -- Cervus elaphus,
is a very large cervid. Elk belong to the Family Cervidae, which
includes Elk, Moose, Caribou, White-tailed and Mule Deer. Cervids
are hoofed mammals that have antlers which are shed each year.
They all chew their cud. Their coloration is generally brown
or tan, and their underparts are darker. They have a lighter
rump patch and tail. The buck has a dark brown mane on the throat
and large antlers; up to 5 feet long. The height is 4 to 5 feet
and the weight is from 700 to 1,000 pounds. The female is smaller.
Elk 
are mostly nocturnal but can be seen in early dawn
and dusk. In spite of their large size, they move quietly through
brush. Bulls can run at speeds up to 35 mph. These animals are
strong swimmers. They are grazing animals and feed on many kinds
of plants, including twigs and bark. These are social animals,
traveling in herds, some up to 400 individuals. The average size
herd is about 25.
They have a variety of vocalizations including
snorts, bugles or whistles. The bull elk is the most vocal of
the American cervids.
The Elk breeds in late August through November,
peaking in Octrober and November. There are usually 1 or 2 young
born after a gestation period of around 9 months. The Elks lifespan
is about 14 years in the wild; 25 years in captivity.
Elk inhabit a variety of terrain depending
on the time of year. You can find them in mountain meadows, wooded
slopes, dense woods, valleys and plains.
Wapiti is a Shawnee word meaning "white
deer" which referred to a subspecies of Elk that were very
pale.
Range: southwestern Canada into the USA
(Washington, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Oregon, California,
Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Minnesota
and Michigan. Also some eastern states including Pennsylvania.
The little stuffed animal Elk to the right
is made by Wild Republic and emits the real call of an Elk when
squeezed.
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to Forest Friends Index.
