Holy Spikes!
A duo of adolescent elk bulls stare curiously at the stopped vehicle as they were seen grazing in a grassy field along the road. These young bulls are probably 1 1/2 years old. They will likely grow raghorns this year (more than spikes, but not the typical 5 or 6 point antlers) and will leave the cows and calves they have lived with until now and will spend next fall and winter with other bulls. Captured in north Idaho.
The elk or wapiti is one of the largest species within the deer family, Cervidae, in the world, and one of the largest land mammals in North America and Eastern Asia. This animal should not be confused with the still larger moose to which the name "elk" applies in British English and in reference to populations in Eurasia.
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.. more
