Elk in the Spring
Spring is a wonderful time of the year for wildlife because the snow melts, the grass grows and new tender shoots sprout on the willows and brows.
Most bull elk shed there antlers between January and March, and as soon as their old antlers fall off, their new antlers begin to grow. These growing antlers have fuzzy covering on them called velvet, which is like skin because it has nerves and blood vessels running through it. Those vessels carry the calcium and other minerals that form the antler bone.
As spring temperatures rise, elk start to shed their heavy winter coats and grow thinner summer coats. Their winter coats have two layers -- the short, fuzzy fur next to their bodies keeps the heat in, while long, outer fur keeps them nearly water proof.
In late May or early June, elk give birth to their calves. The mother elk, or cows, look for a nice quiet place to have her calf. Soon after it is born, the calf can stand and walk, but it can’t run very fast right away. Newborn calves are covered with white spots that help them blend in with their surroundings. The calf must stay hidden in the bushes until it gets strong enough to escape from predators, like coyotes, wolves (there are no free roaming wolves in Colorado), bears and mountain lions. The mother elk nurses the calf with her nutritious milk to help it gain strength. In a couple weeks, the calf will be running and playing with other calves.
Spring is a wonderful time of the year for wildlife because the snow melts, the grass grows and new tender shoots sprout on the willows and brows.
Most bull elk shed there antlers between January and March, and as soon as their old antlers fall off, their new antlers begin to grow. These growing antlers have fuzzy covering on them called velvet, which is like skin because it has nerves and blood vessels running through it. Those vessels carry the calcium and other minerals that form the antler bone.
As spring temperatures rise, elk start to shed their heavy winter coats and grow thinner summer coats. Their winter coats have two layers -- the short, fuzzy fur next to their bodies keeps the heat in, while long, outer fur keeps them nearly water proof.
In late May or early June, elk give birth to their calves. The mother elk, or cows, look for a nice quiet place to have her calf. Soon after it is born, the calf can stand and walk, but it can’t run very fast right away. Newborn calves are covered with white spots that help them blend in with their surroundings. The calf must stay hidden in the bushes until it gets strong enough to escape from predators, like coyotes, wolves (there are no free roaming wolves in Colorado), bears and mountain lions. The mother elk nurses the calf with her nutritious milk to help it gain strength. In a couple weeks, the calf will be running and playing with other calves.
