American Elk

Wapiti, also American elk, ruminant mammal native to the northern part of the western hemisphere from southern Canada to northern Mexico, and conspecific with the red deer of Europe, northwestern Africa, and Asia. It has dark brown fur on the head and neck, and creamy gray fur on the back and flanks. A full-grown stag stands up to 1.5 m (up to 4.9 ft) high at the shoulder, and weighs up to 340 kg (up to 750 lb). The antlers are smooth and attain a great size, averaging more than 1.2 m (more than 4 ft) each in length. The antlers are shed in March, begin to grow again in late spring, and are fully grown by fall. Wapiti graze and browse on grasses, twigs, and leaves.

The wapiti formerly ranged throughout the temperate regions of the western hemisphere, but the advance of civilization limited its range and caused huge herds to be slaughtered for food and sport. The animal is now largely restricted to the mountainous areas of the western United States and Canada. The stags live alone or in small groups apart from the main herd during most of the year, joining the herd only during the mating season. At this time the stags fight over the right to the females, accompanying these fights with a braying call. In late spring some populations of wapiti leave the lowlands and migrate to the upper reaches of the mountain forests. The doe bears a single fawn. The animal known in Europe as the elk is known in North America as the moose.

Scientific classification: The wapiti belongs to the family Cervidae. It is classified as Cervus elephus.

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