Redwood National Park ServiceUS Department of the Interior

Department of Parks and RecreationState of CaliforniaNational and State Parks

Redwood National andState Parks is home to asubspecies of elk known

as Roosevelt elk (Cervus elaphusroosevelti). Herds of these mag-nificent animals once ranged fromSan Francisco Bay to VancouverIsland, British Columbia, and eastto the Cascade Range in Oregonand Washington. Today their rangeis limited to the coast fromHumboldt County, California toVancouver Island, British Colum-bia.

Once Nearly ExtinctBy 1925, the number ofRoosevelt elk in California haddropped to as few as 15. One ofthe last elk herds was located inPrairie Creek Redwoods StatePark. Fortunately, protection ofhabitat in the park and surround-ing areas has allowed the Cali-fornia Roosevelt elk populationto rebound to more than 1,000animals.

CharacteristicsElk are the second largest mem-bers of the deer family. Mooseare larger. Adult males (bulls)weigh 740-1,100 pounds; fe-males (cows) weigh 380-640pounds. Both sexes have a darkhead, neck and legs, with a lightbrown body and a cream-coloredrump. Mature males boast largemulti-branched antlers, while theshorter antlers of young males(called spikes) usually areunbranched. Females do nothave antlers.

Where to See ElkMembers of the Rooseveltelk herd in Redwood Na-tional and State Parks some-times can be seen grazing orresting along Highway 101in the southern part of theparks. But the best places toobserve them are:

Elk Prairie: AlongNewton B. Drury ScenicParkway, south of the entranceto Prairie Creek RedwoodsState Park.

Davison Road: Alongeither side of Davison Road,just west of Highway 101.

Gold Bluffs Beach:Continue on Davison Roadfour miles on an unpaved roadto Gold Bluffs Beach(motorhomes and trailers arenot advised).

Observe Them SafelyAlthough elk may appear tame,they are wild animals and can bedangerous to humans. Likepeople, elk have their own needsfor privacy and protection, andthey will act to defend them-selves if they feel challenged orthreatened. Observe elk from adistance with binoculars orphotograph them with a tele-photo lens. Back away if theyget too close. Never approachwild elk! Bulls may be aggres-sive; females can also be dan-gerous. They can kick, slash,and stomp with their sharphooves. Cows can be particu-larly defensive during thesummer months when they areprotecting their young calves.

Habitat ManagementElk occasionally spend time inthe forests and sometimes can beseen on the beach, but theyprefer open grasslands. Thus, theprotection and maintenance ofthe parks’ prairies are extremelyimportant to provide goodgrazing habitat. Currently, parkmanagers are using methodssuch as prescribed burning andtree removal to reopen andmaintain the prairies. Firebenefits elk because the nutri-tional quality of the grassesincreases considerably after theburn. Biologists also suspect thatburning the prairies may reduceparasites that are harmful to elk.

Threats to SurvivalBiologists believe that road killsand poaching are the majorcauses of death for elk in thisarea. You can reduce this prob-lem by driving at or below thespeed limit and watching forwildlife along the roads. Inaddition, if you observe anysuspicious behavior related towildlife poaching, please reportthis information to a rangerimmediately.

Elk in the Redwoods

The Elk CalendarSeasonal changes mark the

behavior of elk herds, asthey have since long before

humans were around toobserve them.

AutumnThe breeding or rutting periodoccupies elk from late August tomid-October. This is when bullelk compete for control ofgroups of females, called “har-ems.” To attract mates and warnaway other bulls, mature maleelk make a bellowing, whistlingsound called bugling. Bugling,pit wallowing, and antler clash-ing all are preludes to combativecontacts between pairs of rivalbulls. A challenger may ap-proach a harem bull, bugling,urinating, and tossing turf withhis antlers. The harem bull likelywill advance and bugle. The pairmay circle and one may charge.If the other holds his ground, theresulting clash of antlers maywound or even kill an elk, butbefore this happens one of thebulls usually admits defeat andretreats.

WinterDue to the mild climate of theNorthern California coast, elk inthis area do not need to migratealthough they do grow a secondinsulating layer of warm fur.Even with our mild climate, thelimited amount of new plantgrowth available for food makesthis a stressful time of year forelk.

SpringIn February and March, malesshed their antlers. About a weeklater they begin to grow newones at the rate of 10 to 12inches per month. Their growingantlers, formed from keratin, abone-like material, are nourishedby blood vessels in a soft mem-brane covering called “velvet.”Scentless calves, born in Mayand June, remain hidden frompredators for the first week ortwo while their mothers graze ashort distance away. Later, cowsand calves join the herd offemales and young males, whichis led by an older cow. Oldermales form separate bachelorherds or remain solitary throughthe summer.

SummerBy late August the bull elk’santlers stop growing. The bloodvessels inside the velvet dry up,causing it to fall off. Bulls oftenrub their antlers on trees andbushes to remove the driedvelvet. Soon the rutting seasonbegins and the ancient cyclecontinues.

Published by Redwood Park Association in cooperation with Redwood National and State Parks, National Park Service 2004.

EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA revised 9/02