North American Elk
Created on Day 6
October 1, 2010
When a buck grows new antlers for the year, these antlers are very sensitive and somewhat soft. However, they are protected by a layer of skin called “velvet” that the buck removes just before mating season begins by rubbing his antlers on trees. How did the elk know to rub this layer of skin from his antlers? This instinct was given to the elk by its Creator God.
- The North American elk is usually a shade of brown with darker shading on its neck, belly, head, and legs.
- It also has a dark, shaggy mane hanging from its neck to its chest.
- The number of tines on the elk’s antlers does not necessarily give the age of the elk because some bucks have antlers that are uneven (three on one side and four on the other). Also, the number of tines can actually decrease with age.
- This species also occurs in Siberia. It is the second largest species of deer in the world.
- Male elk are called bulls and females are called cows.
- This species is often called “wapiti,” which is a Shawnee word meaning “white rump.”
Created Kind Members
Deer, reindeer, moose
CLASS: Mammalia (mammal)
ORDER: Artiodactyla (even-toed hooves)
FAMILY: Cervidae (deer kind)
GENUS/SPECIES: Cervus canadensis
Size: 5–9 ft (1.6–2.7 m) tall
Weight: 375–1,100 lbs (170–500 kg)
Original Diet: Plants
Present Diet: Plants
Habitat: Grasslands and open forests of North America and Siberia