Eastern Elk

Scientific: Cervus elaphus L.  
French: élan 
Status: Extinct (Western elk and domesticated present in area)  

Description: Males: wt 450kg (1,000 lbs). Females: wt 360 kg (800 lbs).  Elk is the 2^nd largest member of the deer family. All ages (except for the spotted calves) and both sexes have a grayish-brown pelt, large yellowish-tan rump patch and dark neck mane. Bulls grow antlers weighing up to 20 kg (45 lbs).

Habitat: Elk are primarily grazers, foraging in agricultural and natural forest openings, forest clear-cuts, rock ridges and burns. On the Precambrian Shield, elk often use abandoned fields, meadows associated with creek drainages and rocky outcrops covered with the common hair-grass. Trembling aspen, willows, red maple, staghorn sumac, red osier dogwood and eastern white cedar are frequent browse items. 

During the summer elk eat twigs and leaves, as well as warm season grasses along forest edges. Open areas are used during the rut. In early winter, elk are often seen on ridges and fields, digging through snow for grass and fallen acorns. As winter progresses, elk use lower elevations associated with conifers, and consume largely woody browse. Wind-swept red oak/red maple ridges and cedar-lined frozen bodies of water are used extensively throughout the winter.

Life History: Cows give birth to a single calf in May-June. As September rutting season approaches, cows and calves form herds (harems), later competed for and defended by bulls. During this time, bulls “bugle” to advertise their presence.

Similar Species: Moose are dark brown and taller. White-tailed deer have a whitish rump and are smaller.

Threats: Once native to Ontario, elk were extirpated by the late 1800s as a result of unregulated hunting, loss of habitat to settlement, agriculture and logging. There have been several attempts to restore elk to the province throughout the 20^th century. Most recently, Alberta elk were released in 4 Ontario locations between 1998 and 2001 including the Nipissing-French River area. There are currently about 500 free-ranging elk in the province.  Elk are also raised commercially on farms.

What you can do: Contact Josef Hamr at 705-566-8101 ext 7256 or email jxhamr@cambrianc.on.ca with sighting information.

Compiled By: Josef Hamr, Northern Environmental Heritage Institute, Cambrian College.