JACKSON, Wyo. — Throughout all of nature’s great acts in Jackson Hole, elk remain one of the most iconic stars.
As seasons change, residents and visitors witness elk adapt to the natural world in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem as they have for thousands of years.
Photos: Nick Sulzer // Buckrail
Every year, elk migrate out of the high country and travel down into their winter range. In Jackson, the National Elk Refuge is one of the important areas for wintering wildlife. This is where elk from Yellowstone migrate for the season. The elk that summer within Grand Teton National Park migrate between the park and the refuge. These elk are managed as a part of the Jackson elk herd. It is the largest elk herd in North America.
European American settlers used the word “elk” to describe the animal, which is the word used in Europe for moose (causing great confusion for European visitors). The Shawnee word “wapiti,” which means “white deer” or “white-rumped deer,” is another name for elk.
According to the National Park Service, elk are the most photographed animal in Yellowstone National Park, largely due to their captivatingly huge antlers.
“Bull elk begin growing their first set of antlers when they are about one year old. Antler growth is triggered in spring by a combination of two factors: a depression of testosterone levels and lengthening daylight, ” says NPS. “The first result of this change is the casting or shedding of the previous year’s ‘rack.'”
Right now, the clock is ticking, as most bulls will drop their antlers in March and April. New growth begins soon after.
