![]() ![]() In addition, elk have been changing their seasonal movement patterns and wintering in different areas in recent years. Since the Jackson Elk Herd migrates over such a large area and contains so many animals, management and conservation can be challenging.The majority of the herd spends the winter on the National Elk Refuge next to Jackson and in spring migrates and spreads out to various summer ranges from Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks to the Teton WIlderness, Gros Ventre Mountain Range and private land along the Snake River.Elk also provide hunters with a sustainable food source and outdoor experience, as well as support local hunting outfitters, hotels, and other businesses during the fall. Elk are a primary prey species for grizzly bears and wolves, two animals that are highly sought after for wildlife-viewing and ecotourism in the Jackson area.The Jackson Elk Herd is one of the largest elk herds in North America, numbering 11,000 animals and is a vital component of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.Primary predators include American black bear, grizzly bear, cougar, gray wolves and coyotes. Other sources include diseases, parasites and malnutrition due to weather conditions, food supply and food quality. The primary threat to elk is hunting and predation. In the fall individual herds begin to form large herds for rut which then break into smaller groups as male seek out and defend cow groups or harems. During the spring migratory elk will disperse into smaller groups as they reach intermediate elevations and yearling and 2-year-old males tend to leave joining bull groups once calving starts. The largest groups tend to form in winter and early spring. Cow groups however tend to be more cohesive than bull groups. Savor the gourmet tastes and appetites of the many friends of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation from the United States and Canada, who share their best. ![]() Habitat, predators, forage, population density, breeding activities and weather influence herd patterns. Herds are not consistently composed of the same individuals. Social Behavior and InteractionĮlk are gregarious and remain in herds throughout the year. Calves are fully weened by two months and will remain with their mother for nearly one year. Gestation is 240-262 days usually single birth with calves weighing 35 lbs. Female elk are sexually mature at age two and have a short estrus cycle, 1-2 days. The period is known as the rut where mature bull (male) elk compete for and defend a group of cows (female) called a harem. The mating period for elk begins in early September and typically runs for 10-12 weeks. LifespanĮlk live up to 15 years in the wild and 20 or more years in captivity. DietĮlk are primarily grazers, feeding on native grasses supplementing on forbs and tree sprouts in the summer and tree bark in the winter. Velvet is shed once the antlers are fully developed. While actively growing antlers are covered by velvet, a highly vascularized soft layer of skin. Antlers are shed in early spring and grow throughout the summer. During winter elk grow thicker hair and a thin neck mane that shed by early summer. Elk also have clearly defined buff colored rumps and small tail. Elk have a dark reddish hue during the summer and a lighter grayish hue in the winter. Shoulder height: Males, 5 ft (1.5 m) Females, 4.5 ft (1.3 m)Įlk are one of the largest members of the Cervidae family. Length: Males, 8 ft (2.4 m) Females, 6.5 ft (2 m) elaphus nannodes) once roamed the valleys of northern and central California and are now managed by state and federal agencies on California public land. elaphus manitobensis) are found primarily in the provincial and national parks of Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan however they were once found along the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains through Colorado. The Rocky Mountain elk is the second largest elk subspecies which Idaho has the third largest population behind Montana and Colorado. elaphus Roosevelt) is the largest and ranges along the Pacific coast from northern California to Washington and Canada. There are four extant subspecies of elk found in North America. Elk prefer open woodlands, coniferous swamps, clear cuts, aspen-hardwood forests and coniferous-hardwood forests. They migrate to lower elevations, open forests and floodplain marshes in the winter. During the summer elk are found in subalpine forests and alpine basins. ![]() Within North America Rocky Mountain elk can be found in the Rocky Mountains and adjacent ranges of western United States and Canada. ![]()
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