An icon of the West
Few animals are as important to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem as the elk (Cervus canadensis). An estimated 10,000–20,000 elk from 6 separate herds migrate into Yellowstone National Park each summer. As the park’s most abundant ungulate, elk comprise approximately 85% of winter wolf kills and are an important food for bears, mountain lions, and scavenger species including bald eagles and coyotes.
One of the most recognizable features of this impressive animal is its massive antlers, which only males (bulls) grow. The antlers of a typical, healthy bull are 55–60 inches long, just under six feet wide, and weigh about 30 pounds per pair. Elk begin growing their first “rack” when they are about one year old. At their peak, a bull’s antlers can grow as much as 1 inch per day, just to be shed in spring and start from scratch shortly after.
For thousands of years, the indigenous peoples of the region have honored the elk, which is inextricably linked to Yellowstone. In fact, the connection between this animal and Yellowstone is so strong that all the tribes refer to the Yellowstone River as the Elk River. To them, elk have always been an important food source and their hides are used for clothing. Their ivory teeth were also used to decorate dresses by certain tribes.
One of the six elk herds in the park is known as the “Jackson Herd” and it migrates south to Grand Teton National Park and the National Elk Refuge in Jackson Hole during the winter months. About 7,500 elk are found in the National Elk Refuge in the winter and are among the most famous and visible elk herds in America. This herd receives supplemental feeding – on average 35 tons of alfalfa pellets per day – to get them through the harsh winter months.