Elk Species Account with Emphasis on North America

December 11 2009

Elk Species Account With Emphasis on North America

Introduction

The North American elk or the Cervus elaphus is one of the largest animals found of the continent. The elk also serves as one of landmarks of the Rocky Moutains and is one of cornerstones of big game hunting today. (Senseman 2002)

Distribution

The distribution of the elk is a highly controversial subject. It is thought that the elk are descended from a species that once inhabited Beringia. This is a steppe region between Asia and North America that connected the two continents during the Pleistocene. As the ocean levels began to rise, elk began to migrate southwards until they reached what is now North America. These elk adapted very well and were distributed basically throughout the country except for in the true deserts and the gulf coast of the U.S. In time, these elk began moving to the less populated areas due to the colonization of the plains. (Senseman 2002) They now live in habitats such as forest or forest edge areas. They often dwell at higher elevations in summer, migrating to lower elevation in the winter. These elk also inhabit some semi-deserts in North America, such as the Great Basin. These elk didn't receive much recognition till the 1970's when many when many hunter-conservation organizations started relocation these elk in the Appalachian region of the eastern U.S. This effort was successful and introduced this species to states such as Kentucky, North Carolina, and Tennessee. These elk then migrated to neighboring states like Virginia and West Virginia. Elk also occur throughout the world in places such as Argentina, Chile, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. They were brought to these areas primarily for hunting and ranching for meat, and in places such as New Zealand these elk have been genetically proven to hybridize with the red dear to the extent that that the original elk may no longer exist in New Zealand. This new species has had a very negative impact on native species and they were considered invasive. This impact led to the I.U.C.N to indentify the elk as one of the world's worst invaders. (N.E.R. 2009)

Migratory Habitats

The migration of these animals is limited to the climate that they live in. Elk will stay in lower altitude places during the winter but when the temperature rises they move to the higher altitude. As far the past goes, the only evident migration of these animals was from the Great Plains to the Rocky Mountains. As I hit on earlier, the primary reason for this migration to the higher altitude country was not based upon the weather, but because of the colonization of the plains and the elk moved to the less populated mountains.(Senseman 2002)

Habitat Requirements

Elk are extremely adaptable. This is in large part due to their ability to digest both grasses and woody pulp to brush at the same time. Therefore their habitat needs can vary among the region of which they live in. Elk can also adapt to a more nomadic life by roaming through the desert country. Once an elk is stable in a region their habitat is classified in two different categories: typical and prime. The typical elk habitat is an area that has to have three requirements of an elk herd. The typical habitat has to have available food, water, and security shelter. In a typical area elk are observed to migrate to specific locations of terrain that fit the typical needs and allow some other benefit. These pockets inside the typical habitat are called prime habitats. These prime habitats for Rocky Mountain Elk are usually sub alpine regions where grass and wet boggy areas provide security, isolation, great feed, and more than enough water for drinking and the occasional wallowing during summer when horse flies disturb the elk. (Senseman 2002)

Food Habits

Elk's food habits are unlike most of the deer species. Elk are considered ruminants because they have four chambered stomachs, and unlike many of the elks close relatives which are mainly browsers, elk share a trait with cattle of that they are primarily grazers, but like other deer they still browse. If left unpressured elk will do most of their feeding in the mornings and evenings, but if pressured they will change their feeding times to when there is least amount of activity. After eating elk will usually seek sheltered areas between feedings to digest foods. What elk eat largely depends on the season that it is in with a healthy dose of native grasses. In the winter elk have been known to eat "woody growth, wintergreen,