Scientific name: Cervus canadensis manitobensis Manitoban elk Manitoban elk | image by Bodlina via Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 3.0 They have a weight range of about 400 to 1100 pounds, and as their name suggests, you can find them living in the Rocky Mountains and the ranges that are adjacent to them in Western North America. The Rocky Mountain elk subspecies can grow to be between 6.5 and 8.5 feet in length, and their shoulder height is between 4 and 5 feet. Scientific name: Cervus canadensis nelsoni Rocky Mountain elk Rocky mountain elk female | image by Cataloging Nature via Flickr | CC BY 2.0 Despite being small in size, there are differences in nutrition and habitat among them, and certain individuals can weigh up to 900 pounds. As the smallest subspecies of North American elk, you may observe that they have a small size, with males weighing between 450 to 550 pounds and females around 375 to 425 pounds. The tule elk lives exclusively in California and thrives from the marshes of the Central Valley to the hills along the coast. Scientific name: Cervus canadensis nannodes Tule elk Tule Elk mount on hill | image by Brandon Levinger via Flickr | CC BY 2.0 You may also like: 11 Types of Animals Like Prairie Dogs (Pictures) 2. They inhabit the temperate rainforests of the Pacific Northwest, including northern California, and are named after a relative of Theodore Roosevelt.

The height of this particular subspecies can range from 2.5 to 5.6 feet, while its length extends from 6 to 10 feet. These creatures display a massive size, with mature bulls weighing anywhere from 700 to 1200 lbs, and sometimes going above these weight limits. The Roosevelt elk, one of the four surviving subspecies in North America, is the largest among them. Scientific name: Cervus canadensis roosevelti Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region via Flickr Roosevelt’s elk Group of Roosevelt Elk | image by U.S. Listed below are the various species and the sizes at which you can expect to encounter them in the forests of North America. North American subspeciesĮlk have six known subspecies in North America, but only four of these particular animals are surviving until today. Additionally, each antler can weigh up to 20 pounds. The antlers of these creatures have the ability to develop into seven or eight points each, with a length and spread that can reach up to four feet. AntlersĪs an adaptation for competition, display, and mating success, male elks display antlers that grow 0.98 inches per day. However, diverse factors, including genetics, habitat quality, and food availability, contribute to the variation in their weight.įor instance, when they reside in a habitat with a sufficient amount of food, they can grow heavier compared to those dwelling in an unfavorable environment with limited availability of food. On average, male elks weigh between 392 and 1,096 pounds, whereas females tend to be lighter, weighing in at 377 to 644 pounds. Keep in mind that certain subspecies might have differences in average length. LengthĮlks have a length that spans from 5 feet 3 inches to 8 feet 10 inches, measuring from their nose to the tip of their tail. The average height of this species at the shoulder ranges from 2 feet 6 inches to 4 feet 11 inches. The elk, also referred to as wapiti which means “white rump” in Shawnee, is the second largest animal in the deer family, just after the moose. How big is a full-size elk? Height An elk in the grass | Image by Brigitte Werner from Pixabay

They can grow antlers with seven to eight points, reaching a length of up to four feet.

The average height of these animals ranges from 2 to 4 feet.

The males also have striking antlers spanning up to 4 feet long, displaying multiple points.

Male elks can weigh from 400 up to 1100 pounds, whereas female elks, called cows, typically weigh between 375 and 650 pounds. How big is an elk?Įlks vary in size based on sex and age, but they typically reach an average height of about 4 to 5 feet at the shoulder. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the sizes of these massive mammals, as well as the different subspecies you might encounter in North America. With different subspecies seen in the wild, some people may wonder exactly how big is an elk. They eat grasses, plants, leaves, and bark, so you can find them roaming the forests where there is a lot of food for them to eat. The elk, which is one of the biggest species of deer, is one of the most noticeable animals you might see in North America.

Average bull elk weight