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A Roosevelt bull takes a bite from a shrub in the Hoh Rain Forest.
Ken and Mary Campbell
Roosevelt Elk –Cervus elaphus roosevelti
Olympic National Park is home to the largest fully wild herd of Roosevelt elk in the Pacific Northwest. Named for President Theodore Roosevelt, they are the largest variety of elk in North America with cows weighing 600-700 pounds (272-317 kg), and bulls weighing up to 1,100 pounds (500 kg)! Both males and females have dark brown heads and pale brown bodies with a large white rump and a stubby tail. Males are larger than females, and identifiable by a set of antlers in the summer and fall. Roosevelt elk are much larger than the blacktail deer that inhabit the same areas.
Safety:
An elk may try to kick you or chase you off if they feel threatened.
Give Elk Space!
Olympic National Park asks that people stay at least 100 feet or about three bus lengths (~30 meters, 33 yards) from all elk. Watching wildlife from a distance not only protects them—it also protects you and helps "keep wildlife wild".
If you see an elk calf, leave it alone. The mother is nearby; female elk rarely abandon their calf. Remember tht wildlife mamas don't have babysitters.
Elk can show anxiety through grinding their teeth or sending their ears back. If you come into an area with an aggressive elk that is following you or approaching you back away slowly.
Do Not Touch or Feed! It's illegal to apporach or feed wildlife in Olympic National Park. Approaching wildlife may cause stress to them and interfere with their ability to survive in the wild.
If you experience an aggressive or concerning encounter with an elk, let a park ranger know or fill out this online wildlife report.
Habitat:
Elk are relatively versatile, and often occupy a range of habitats, from montane meadows and forests down to the lowland rain forests, where there is ample food. An excellent place to see elk is the Hoh Rain Forest. These non-migratory herds stay in the Hoh area throughout the year, banding together in herds of around 20 and consisting of females and their calves. Male elk, or bulls, can be seen singly or small groups. September is a great time to hear them bugling, as it is mating season and the males compete for groups of females.
Diet:
Roosevelt elk feed mainly on ferns, shrubs, and lichens from the rain forest, as well as meadow grasses.
Role in the Ecosystem:
Roosevelt elk are the largest herbivore on the peninsula, making them an important indicator to the health of the ecosystem. They must eat a significant amount, considering their size, which can over-graze and deplete a vegetative area if there are too many. With not enough grazing animals, predators may not be able to survive. While their only main natural predators are bears or mountain lions, if an elk dies, its size can provide food for hundreds of organisms from large predators to scavengers and decomposers.
