A few facts about elk from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Elk calves weigh an average of 35 pounds at birth. They are usually born in late May or early June.
Elk have antlers, not horns. Antlers are shed and regrown every year and are made of bone. Horns grow throughout the life of the animal and are made of keratin. A set of antlers can weigh up to 40 pounds.
Elk replace all of their hair twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall.
Elk in North America are sometimes called wapiti, a Shawnee Indian word meaning "white rump."
There are four subspecies of elk. Those found in Utah are Rocky Mountain elk, which rank about third in size. Rocky Mountain cows average 500 pounds; bulls average 700 pounds. But Rocky Mountain elk have the largest antlers of the four groups.
Elk have a four-chambered stomach and chew cuds similar to cows.
Elk are herd-forming animals. Herds offer more security because there are many eyes, ears and noses to check for danger. Predators of elk are mountain lions, grizzly bears, coyotes, black bears, wolves -- and humans.