EPOW - Ecology Picture of the Week

Elk on the Prowl

Elk (Cervus elaphus), Family Cervidae
Cedar River Watershed, Washington USA

Explanation:  While out on a field wildlife project in the Cedar River Watershed in northwestern Washington state, USA, my progress was halted by the appearance of this magnificent bull elk, sauntering across the edge of a forest opening, perhaps in search of forage, a mate, or more.

Actually, I was not very surprised at seeing this fine specimen, as I had already encountered some of its tracks:

Elk are one of the largest deer species, and its tracks differ from other large herbivorous mammals, such as caribou, moose, feral horse, American bison, and muskox (not that any of those species occur in northwestern Washington state).  Elk tracks mostly have an even, straight-line division between the two pads of the hoof, as shown in the above photo, whereas that of these other ungulates show a curved (caribou, muskox, bison), deviating (moose), or unsplit (horse) division.