Manitoban Elk (Cervus canadensis manitobensis) N. Dakota and S. Canada.

Roosevelt Elk (Cervus canadensis roosevelti) or Olympic Elk, Pacific northwest

Rocky Mountain Elk (Cervus canadensis nelsoni) Yellowstone and Rocky Mtns

Tule Elk (Cervus canadensis nannodes) Central and coastal California

The elk or wapiti (Cervus canadensis) is the second largest species (second only to the moose) within the family Cervidae in the world and one of the largest land mammals in North America and Eastern Asia.

Cervus is a genus of cervids that primarily are native to Eurasia, although one species occurs in northern Africa and another one in North America.

Elk range in forest and forest-edge habitat, feeding on grasses, plants, leaves, and bark. Male elk have large antlers which are shed each year. Males also engage in ritualized mating behaviors during the rut, including posturing, antler wrestling, and bugling, (loud series of vocalizations that establishes dominance over other males and attracts females).

During June of 2016, after attending the convention in Aurora, Colorado, I drive up to Rocky Mountain national park and take Trail Ridge road over the continental divide. On the way up, I see a couple of bucks grazing the green marshland in the lower elevation.

Later, when above the treeline, I see a large herd, possibly one hundred or more grazing on the mountainside near a show bank. As I continue on the roadway, I then see the full extend of the herd and determine it to be well over one hundred head.

Then, after stopping for a break at Alpine visitors center, I begin the drive down the west side and see a pair of does resting on the grassy slopes.

I continue down from the above treeline drive, through the forest and down to the Colorado river valley and stop at Timber Creek campground for the evening and even here, the elk are grazing.

Traveling late in the fall of 2016, I stop at a campsite on the Mogollon Rim and immediately see a pair of elk in the forest. It was just before sunset and I am sure that like myself the elk are looking for a place to overnight.

When I arrived at Fort Yellowstone in Mammoth Hot Springs, I found the elk here so bold as to graze right in town on the grassy lawns. While mom would graze during the heat of the day, the fawns would find a shady spot to rest.

Although there were several elk sightings during this visit, most were from a distance and the photos were a bit out of focus.