“…and today we’re talking about a certain cervus. But more on that later.”
When you’re born into a prey animal species, it’s important to get up and running as soon as possible. But elk calves need a little time to unwind before they start bounding through the meadows. What can they do to avoid predators before they can keep up with the herd? Hide. But going incognito means being undetectable by sight, sound, and smell. Being imperceptible is a great way to start in Life, Death, and Taxonomy.
Description
- Massive, sturdy body covered in a reddish-brown coat, darkening to almost black on the neck.
- Thick, coarse fur with lighter underbelly, legs, and rump.
- Large, majestic antlers on males that seem like nature’s own crown
- Long face with a distinct dark muzzle, kind of like if a horse and a deer had a distinguished baby.
- Tall and long-legged, towering over other deer species like they’re the CEOs of the cervid world.
Measure Up
Welcome to the beloved Measure Up segment. The official listener’s favorite part of the show! The part of the show when we present the animal’s size and dimension in relatable terms through a quiz that’s fun for the whole family. It’s also the part of the show that’s introduced by you when you send in audio of yourself saying, singing, or chittering the words Measure Up into ldtaxonomy at gmail dot com. We don’t have a new Measure Up intro!
Brother Bear: Moose, eh?
Height
Up to 1.3 meters (about 4.3 feet) at the shoulder.
- 51 hot wheels cars
- 34,897 go into the grand canyon
- 39 Polly Pockets
Hot wheels cars are 1:64 scale.
Typically ranges from 2 to 2.5 meters (about 6.6 to 8.2 feet).
Weight: Males can weigh up to 300 kg (about 660 pounds), with an average around 275 kg (about 606 pounds).
- 60 gallons of water
- 43 standard cinder blocks
- 1 medium grand piano
Fast Facts about the Rocky Mountain Elk
- Range: Found in the mountainous regions of the Western U.S., mostly hanging out in the Rockies.
- Habitat: Loves coniferous forests, meadows, and valleys.
- Diet: Strictly herbivorous—grasses, shrubs, and the occasional accidental pinecone. No cheat days for these guys.
- Social Behavior: Elk are herd animals. Bulls form harems during the rut, like an awkward wildlife version of The Bachelor.
- Sounds: The male’s bugle sounds like the soundtrack of a nature documentary set in space—a high-pitched, echoing whistle that can carry for miles.
- Mating Behavior: Bulls battle each other by locking antlers and shoving, like the world’s most intense headbutt competition.
- Predators: Wolves, bears, and mountain lions might try their luck, but a full-grown elk is no easy meal.
- Lifespan: Can live up to 20 years, but the average in the wild is closer to 10-15 years, mostly due to all that dodging of predators and bad reality TV proposals.
Major Fact: Makes No Scents
Baby elk calves are born without a scent. This lack of smell helps protect them from predators, as it makes them much harder to detect. During the first week of their lives, these calves remain very still and quiet, often hidden in bushes or tall grass to avoid being noticed.
This scentless period doesn’t last long, though. As they grow and start moving around more, they develop a scent and become more detectable to predators.
Elk calves have undeveloped scent glands, so their smell profile blends into the world around them.
Coyote and other predators will still look for calves. During their first few weeks, elk calves remain hidden in tall grass or bushes. They stay very still and quiet, which helps them avoid detection. Their fur has a mottled pattern that blends in with the natural surroundings, making it harder for predators to spot them.
They don’t stay small long. They drink a gallon of milk and grow three pounds per day.
So whistle while you work, butt heads with the competition, and make sure your babies don’t stink like the elk here in LDT.