Elk and caribou are both large deer species, members of the Cervidae family, sharing general characteristics as herbivores. Despite similarities, they possess distinct features allowing them to thrive in different environments. This article highlights their unique physical attributes, geographic distributions, and behavioral patterns.
Key Physical Distinctions
Elk and caribou exhibit notable differences in their physical appearance, particularly in their antlers, size, and coat. Elk, also known as wapiti, typically have large, branching antlers that are rounded in cross-section and sweep backward over their bodies. Only male elk grow antlers, which can weigh up to 40 pounds and spread over four feet wide. These antlers are shed and regrown annually, with new growth covered in a vascular velvet that peels off as the bone hardens.
Caribou, in contrast, are unique among deer species because both males and females typically grow antlers. While female antlers are generally smaller and more slender, male caribou antlers are often larger than an elk’s, sometimes weighing up to 35 pounds, and are notably palmate, featuring broad, flattened sections with multiple points. Caribou antlers also have a distinctive C-shape when viewed from the side. Male caribou shed their antlers after the breeding season, while females often retain theirs through winter and into spring, particularly during pregnancy.
Regarding size and build, elk are generally larger and more robust. Adult male elk can stand approximately 4.5 to 5 feet tall at the shoulder and weigh between 700 to 1,100 pounds. Female elk are smaller, averaging 4 to 4.5 feet at the shoulder and weighing between 450 to 650 pounds. Caribou are typically smaller, with adult males averaging 350 to 400 pounds and females ranging from 175 to 225 pounds. Caribou possess a more slender build with large, concave hooves that provide traction in snow, soft ground, and aid in swimming.
Differences in coat color and markings are apparent. Elk generally have a dark brown body with a lighter, yellowish rump patch. Their legs and neck are often darker than their bodies, and some North American elk subspecies develop a thin neck mane. Caribou exhibit varied coat colors depending on the subspecies and season, often with a clove-brown body, a white neck, and a white rump. Their fur is dense and hollow, providing excellent insulation against extreme cold.
Geographic Range and Habitat
Elk and caribou occupy distinct geographic ranges and prefer different types of environments, reflecting their evolutionary adaptations. Elk are primarily found in North America and parts of East Asia. Their North American distribution spans from the Yukon to northern Mexico and across the continent. They thrive in diverse habitats, including forests, prairies, and mountainous regions. Elk typically inhabit open forests, forest edges, and alpine meadows, often moving to lower elevations during winter. They can also be found in semi-desert areas.
Caribou have a circumpolar distribution, inhabiting Arctic and subarctic regions across North America, Europe, and Asia. In North America, they are referred to as caribou, while in Europe and Asia, the same species is known as reindeer. Caribou are highly adapted to cold environments, preferring treeless tundra, mountain tundra, and boreal forests (taiga).
Lifestyle and Social Dynamics
The lifestyles and social dynamics of elk and caribou vary significantly, particularly in their migratory patterns, social structures, and dietary preferences. Caribou are renowned for their extensive, long-distance seasonal migrations, often traveling hundreds of miles between summer and winter ranges. These movements can involve massive herds, sometimes numbering in the tens of thousands of individuals, which helps them find adequate food and escape insect harassment. Elk, conversely, undertake more localized or altitudinal migrations, moving to higher elevations in spring and descending to lower, more sheltered areas in autumn. Their migrations are generally shorter in distance compared to caribou.
Caribou are highly gregarious, forming some of the largest herds among terrestrial mammals. During summer, these herds can reach tens of thousands of individuals, though they may break into smaller groups as cooler weather arrives. Elk are also social animals, but their herds are typically smaller, sometimes reaching up to 400 individuals in summer. For most of the year, adult male elk often segregate into bachelor groups or travel alone, while females and their young form larger matriarchal herds. Males and females typically come together during the mating season.
The diets of elk and caribou reflect their different habitats. Elk are primarily grazers, consuming large amounts of grasses and sedges. They also browse on leaves, twigs, and bark, especially during winter when grasses are less available. Caribou are specialists in their diet, particularly in winter, when lichens, such as “reindeer moss,” form a significant part of their food intake. During summer, their diet expands to include leaves of willows and birches, mushrooms, and various flowering tundra plants.
Vocalizations also distinguish the two species. Male elk are known for their distinctive “bugling,” a loud, high-pitched whistle-like call used to attract females and assert dominance during the rut. Elk also produce barks as an alarm signal and mews for communication between cows and calves. Caribou primarily communicate through grunts.