80 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA [No. 55 



higher peaks and ridges in summer and down into the warm canyons 

 in winter. When few in numbers and scattered in small bands they 

 are almost as shy and wary as the deer, but where more numerous 

 they collect in larger bands and in winter often come into the settle- 

 ments in search of food. If undisturbed they soon become compara- 

 tively tame, as they have in Yellowstone Park and the Jackson Hole 

 section, where they follow the loads of hay and eat it from the 

 sleighs or even from people's hands. In the mild canyons of Oregon, 

 however, they will never suffer from deep snows or cold weather, 

 and on the steep canyon walls they find abundance of forage that 

 cannot be reached by domestic stock. With the mule deer and moun- 

 tain sheep they will climb the steep, rocky cliffs for forage that even 

 the domestic sheep cannot reach. 



Their only danger now seems to lie in overstocking of the range 

 and starvation after the food supply is exhausted. This can be ob- 

 viated by making a careful study of the carrying capacity of the 

 range and by the annual removal of the surplus by shipments, hunt- 

 ing, or scattering out to new ranges. 



breeding habits. The mating season begins in September and runs 

 into October, when the bulls are in prime fighting trim and their 

 flute-like calls and challenges are heard through the forests. Savage 

 fighting takes place for mastery of the herds and the heaviest, strong- 

 est bulls drive out the weaker and pass on their progeny to the 

 betterment of future generations. The calves are born in May and 

 June and are kept hidden away until late in summer, when, after 

 losing their spots, they join the herds, but they are not all weaned 

 before the early part of November. The bulls shed their antlers in 

 March and April and the new sets grow, harden, shed the velvet, and 

 are ready for fighting again in August. 



Food habits. While depending in summer largely on grass and 

 succulent vegetation for food, elk also eat much browse, and in winter 

 their main food is the tips and buds and twigs of trees and bushes, 

 with such dry grass and low vegetation as are available. In times 

 of deep snow they often gather the twigs and leaflets of evergreens, 

 and to some extent the tree mosses and lichens. They are eager for 

 salt, often making long journeys to natural salt licks. Doubtless elk 

 could be kept to some extent in desired areas by a properly placed 

 salt supply. 



Econovnio status. There is no finer game animal nor one affording 

 better meat than the elk in its prime, and many thousands could 

 be maintained on the national forests and the rough unoccupied 

 land in Oregon without detriment to livestock or agricultural inter- 

 ests. A good supply for hunting could eventually be provided if 

 the animals could be properly protected. Besides, few game animals 

 are more easily raised in captivity or become more fully domesticated 

 and tolerant of fences. The breeding of elk for market has long 

 been advocated by the Biological Survey, and in 1910 a bulletin on 

 raising elk and deer in captivity was published but is out of print. 



