"The elk or wapiti (Cervus canadensis) is one of the largest species of deer in the world and one of the largest land mammals in North America and eastern Asia.
In the deer family (Cervidae), only the larger moose (Alces alces), which is called an "elk" in Europe, and the sambar (Rusa unicolor) rival the elk in size.
Elk are similar to the Red Deer(Cervus elaphus) found in Europe, of which they were long believed to be a subspecies.
However, evidence from a 2004 study of the mitochondrial DNA indicates they are a distinct species.
Elk range in forest and forest-edge habitat, feeding on grasses, plants, leaves, and bark.
Although native to North America and Eastern Asia, they have adapted well to countries where they have been introduced, including Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand.
Their great adaptability may threaten endemic species and ecosystems into which they have been introduced."
Don't accept a gift of edible antler velvet as aphrodisiac, from North America - that gift may be heartfelt, but Creutzfeldt.
"A male elk can produce 10 and 11 kilograms (22 and 24 lb) of antler velvet annually and on ranches in the United States, Canada and New Zealand, this velvet is collected and sold to markets in east Asia, where it is used in medicine.
Velvet is also considered by some cultures to be an aphrodisiac.[45]
However, consuming velvet from elk in North America may be risky since velvet from animals infected with chronic wasting disease may contain prions that could result in a human getting variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.[72]"
Bull elks DIG IT...A fight: they are in it, to win it..."i'm in, ur in!"
" If neither bull backs down, they engage in antler wrestling, and bulls sometimes sustain serious injuries. Bulls also dig holes in the ground, in which they urinate and roll their body. The urine soaks into their hair and gives them a distinct smell which attracts cows.[23]"
To be, or not to be antler-y, horn-y
"The formation and retention of antlers is testosterone-driven.[20]
After the breeding season in late fall, the level of pheromones released during estrus declines in the environment and the testosterone levels of males drop as a consequence.
This drop in testosterone leads to the shedding of antlers, usually in the early winter."
========
A bull elk walks into a RED sunset...
Please visit and join Ruby Tuesday meme!
