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Elk in the Redwoods

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Elk in the Redwoods National Park Service Redwood US Department of the Interior Department of Parks and Recreation National and State Parks State of California Elk in the Redwoods edwood National and Threats to Survival Observe Them Safely State Parks is home to a Biologists believe that road kills Although elk may appear tame, Rsubspecies of elk known and poaching are the major they are wild animals and can be as Roosevelt elk (Cervus elaphus causes of death for elk in this dangerous to humans. Like roosevelti). Herds of these mag- area. You can reduce this prob- people, elk have their own needs nificent animals once ranged from lem by driving at or below the for privacy and protection, and San Francisco Bay to Vancouver speed limit and watching for they will act to defend them- Island, British Columbia, and east wildlife along the roads. In selves if they feel challenged or to the Cascade Range in Oregon addition, if you observe any threatened. Observe elk from a and Washington. Today their range suspicious behavior related to distance with binoculars or is limited to the coast from wildlife poaching, please report photograph them with a tele- Humboldt County, California to this information to a ranger photo lens. Back away if they Vancouver Island, British Colum- immediately. get too close. Never approach bia. wild elk! Bulls may be aggres- sive; females can also be dan- Once Nearly Extinct Where to See Elk gerous. They can kick, slash, By 1925, the number of Members of the Roosevelt and stomp with their sharp Roosevelt elk in California had elk herd in Redwood Na- hooves. Cows can be particu- dropped to as few as 15. One of tional and State Parks some- larly defensive during the the last elk herds was located in times can be seen grazing or summer months when they are Prairie Creek Redwoods State resting along Highway 101 protecting their young calves. Park. Fortunately, protection of in the southern part of the habitat in the park and surround- parks. But the best places to Habitat Management ing areas has allowed the Cali- observe them are: Elk occasionally spend time in fornia Roosevelt elk population the forests and sometimes can be to rebound to more than 1,000 seen on the beach, but they animals. Elk Prairie: Along Newton B. Drury Scenic prefer open grasslands. Thus, the Characteristics Parkway, south of the entrance protection and maintenance of Elk are the second largest mem- to Prairie Creek Redwoods the parks’ prairies are extremely bers of the deer family. Moose State Park. important to provide good are larger. Adult males (bulls) grazing habitat. Currently, park weigh 740-1,100 pounds; fe- Davison Road: Along managers are using methods males (cows) weigh 380-640 either side of Davison Road, such as prescribed burning and pounds. Both sexes have a dark just west of Highway 101. tree removal to reopen and head, neck and legs, with a light maintain the prairies. Fire brown body and a cream-colored Gold Bluffs Beach: benefits elk because the nutri- rump. Mature males boast large tional quality of the grasses Continue on Davison Road multi-branched antlers, while the increases considerably after the four miles on an unpaved road shorter antlers of young males burn. Biologists also suspect that to Gold Bluffs Beach (called spikes) usually are burning the prairies may reduce (motorhomes and trailers are unbranched. Females do not parasites that are harmful to elk. not advised). have antlers. Winter Due to the mild climate of the Northern California coast, elk in this area do not need to migrate although they do grow a second Autumn insulating layer of warm fur. Spring The breeding or rutting period Even with our mild climate, the In February and March, males occupies elk from late August to limited amount of new plant shed their antlers. About a week mid-October. This is when bull growth available for food makes later they begin to grow new elk compete for control of this a stressful time of year for ones at the rate of 10 to 12 groups of females, called “har- elk. inches per month. Their growing ems.” To attract mates and warn antlers, formed from keratin, a away other bulls, mature male bone-like material, are nourished elk make a bellowing, whistling The Elk Calendar by blood vessels in a soft mem- sound called bugling. Bugling, brane covering called “velvet.” pit wallowing, and antler clash- Seasonal changes mark the Scentless calves, born in May ing all are preludes to combative behavior of elk herds, as and June, remain hidden from contacts between pairs of rival they have since long before predators for the first week or bulls. A challenger may ap- humans were around to two while their mothers graze a proach a harem bull, bugling, short distance away. Later, cows urinating, and tossing turf with observe them. and calves join the herd of his antlers. The harem bull likely females and young males, which will advance and bugle. The pair is led by an older cow. Older may circle and one may charge. Summer males form separate bachelor If the other holds his ground, the By late August the bull elk’s herds or remain solitary through resulting clash of antlers may antlers stop growing. The blood the summer. wound or even kill an elk, but vessels inside the velvet dry up, before this happens one of the causing it to fall off. Bulls often bulls usually admits defeat and rub their antlers on trees and retreats. bushes to remove the dried velvet. Soon the rutting season begins and the ancient cycle continues. EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA Published by Redwood Park Association in cooperation with Redwood National and State Parks, National Park Service 2004. revised 9/02 .
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