Bears and Roosevelt Elk on Vancouver Island

Roosevelt’s Elk (Cervus canadensis roosevelti) – is the largest elk in body size – but not antler size – of all elk subspecies. Mature bulls weigh from 700-1200 lbs with very rare large bulls weighing more.

 

Roosevelt’s geographic range includes temperate rainforests of the Pacific Northwest, extending to parts of northern California. It was introduced to Alaska’s Afognak, Kodiak, and Raspberry Islands in 1928.

 

The desire to protect the Roosevelt elk was one of the primary forces behind the establishment of the Mount Olympus National Monument in 1909 by President Theodore Roosevelt, for whom it is named.

 

Bears, Roosevelt Bull Elk, Vancouver Island Nature Video from Mediamaxed on Vimeo.

NOTE: this post was originally posted to this site on January 4, 2021