The Rocky Mountain elk, also known as wapiti, was reintroduced to Utah by conservation groups after overhunting in the 1800s. It is Utah’s state animal and lives in mountain ranges, migrating to lower elevations in the fall. Bulls shed their horns over winter and new horns emerge each spring. They prefer a diet of native herbs but resort to woody shrubs and twigs during the winter. The mating season is called rutting and cows produce one calf a year in May or June.
The Rocky Mountain elk gained prominence as Utah’s state animal in 1971. Also called wapiti, a Shawnee Indian word meaning white rump, elk were reintroduced to Utah by conservation groups after their numbers depleted due to overhunting in the 1800s. Wildlife officials regulate hunting of the Utah state animal to preserve healthy moose populations.
Cervus canadensis is the scientific name of the state animal of Utah, which is the second largest member of the deer family. Once abundant throughout the United States, the Rocky Mountain elk has become restricted west of the Rocky Mountains and in parts of Canada. The Utah state animal lives high in mountain ranges, migrating to lower elevations in the fall to forage.
At maturity, the bull moose could weigh more than 700 pounds (317 kilos) and stand 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall at the shoulder. Cows weigh much less and do not develop horns. Bulls shed their horns over the winter and new horns emerge each spring. When new horns first appear, they are covered in a velvety substance. Bull moose rub against trees to remove the cover once growth is complete.
Rocky Mountain elk prefer a diet of native herbs but resort to woody shrubs and twigs during the winter. They rely on fat reserves to provide energy when nutritious plants are covered in snow. When heavy snow falls in the higher elevations, the Utah state animal migrates to lower-lying areas, where the sun melts the snow and provides access to food.
A feature of these animals includes the many different sounds they use. Cows and calves communicate through a screeching sound, while bulls bark to indicate danger. Males also make a loud trumpet sound during mating season to warn competing bulls and to announce their presence to cows. The sounds described as chirps and meows represent communication between the herd.
The mating season is called rutting, characterized by males latching onto the horns to gauge the strength of other bulls. The cows produce one calf a year in May or June. They isolate the calves for three weeks after birth to protect them from predators. After the cows have given birth, they eat the placenta and any bloody dirt to remove the odor of their young.
In addition to a Utah state animal, lawmakers have also designed a state cooking pot, a state firearm, and a state folk dance. Utah’s state flower is the tallow lily and its tree is the blue spruce. The seagull represents the state bird, while Utah’s emblem is the beehive.
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