Animal: American Elk

Taxonomic Name: Cervus canadensis

Conservation Status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List)  

Wild Range: Forests, grasslands, and mountainous regions in North America and central Asia.

Diet: Grasses and leaves in the summer, supplemented with tree bark in winter.

Longevity in the wild: 10–13 years

Size: 1.2–1.5 m (height at the shoulder)

Weight: ~ 200–400 kg 

Fun Fact: Elk are one of the largest members of the deer family. They are sometimes known as Wapiti, a name derived from the Shawnee and Cree word waapiti, which translates to 'white rump' or 'light-coloured deer'.

APZ Location: Grasslands & Boreal Forest

Conservation Story: Elk populations in North America declined steeply during the 1800s due to habitat loss and overhunting, but conservation actions in latter half of the 20th century resulted in the species’ recovery. Elk have been successfully reintroduced to many of the areas where they were once locally extinct, including in Ontario in the 1990s.