A Missive on Elk

[Hanrahan 2983]

C H A R L E S   N A P I E R , K C M

 

D O C T O R    O F M E D I C I N E 

 

O N   T H E   S U B J E C T   O F

 

A L C E S    A L C E S

O R

T H E   T U R O V I A N   E L K

 

 

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P R I N T E D    I N H E L E N A

 

B Y

 

T H E   E V E R A R D I N E   C O L L E G E 

   A C A D E M I C   P R E S S 

 

I N 

 

A N N O   D O M I N I MDCCL 

 

 

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I N T R O D U C T I O N,

 

The Turovian Elk, Alces Alces is a member of the deer family, and is by far the largest and heaviest species in the deer family. Elk are distinguished by the broad antlers of the mails; other members of the deer family hae antlers with a dendrite (Twiglike) pattern. It typically inhabits the boreal forests and broadleaf forests of the Hanseatic Coastline and Interior. Currently, most Turovian Elk are found in Hanseti-Ruska, and Curon. Their diet consists of both terrestrial (land based) and aquatic vegetation. The most common Elk predators are the gray wolf, along with bears and humans. Unlike most other deer species, Elk do not form herds and are solitary animals, aside from their calvus who remain with their money until eighteen months, at which point the cow chases away the young. Although generally slow-moving and sedentary, Elk can become aggressive and move quickly if startled or baited. Their mating season in the autumn features energetic fights between males.

 

An Elk grazing in a mountain pasture.

 

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    The Turovian Elk require a particular habitat, with specific factors within it. Adequate edible plants - pond grasses, Elkwillows, shrubs, and young trees - cover from predators, and protection from extreme weather conditions. Elk travel among different habitats between the seasons to address these requirements. Elk are cold adapted, with thickened skin, a dense, heat-retaining coat, and a low surface to volume ratio - which provides excellent cold tolerance, but poor heat tolerance. Elk survive the sweltering Hanseatic summers by seeking shade or wind, or by immersion in cool water, necessitating river or lakeshore habitats. When the heat is too much, Elk may fail to adequately forage in summer and may not gain adequate body fat to survive the winter. As well, Elk cows may not calve without adequate summer weight gain. Elk require access to both young forest for browsing, and mature forest for shelter and cover. Forest disturbed by fire and logging promotes the growth of fodder for Elk. Elk also require access to mineral licks - salt - safe places for calving, and aquatic feeding sites. 

    Elk avoid areas with little or no snow, as this increases the risk of attack by wolves - but also avoid areas with deep snow, as this of course, impairs mobility. Thus, Elk select habitat on the basis of trade-offs between risk of attack, food availability and snow depth. Although Bison share the same ecological niche as dominant grazing mammals, they do not come into ecological conflict. Elk prefer the northern sub-alpine shrublands of Haense in early winter, whilst Bison prefer the wet sedge valley meadowlands in early winter. The two species share the same environment, but engage with different biomes. Population wise, there are roughly - estimated to be around nearly a million Elk around Haense-Ruska, and a further quarter-million in the Curonian Woodlands. 

The Turovian Elk in its habitat - the Lakeshore.

 

 

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    Bull Elk have antlers as any other member of the deer family; Cows select mates based predominantly on Antler size. Elk use dominant displays of antlers to discourage competition and will fight rivals in rut. The size and growth rate of antlers is determined by diet and age; symmetry is indicative of a healthy Elk. The males antlers grow as cylindrical beams projecting from each side of the head, then fork. The lower prong of this fork may either be simple, or divided into two or three tines. Elk antlers are broad and palmate (flat) with tines (points) along the outer edge. Elk with antlers have more acute hearing than those without antlers, it seems. The antlers of mature Haensetian Bull Elk have a normal spread of eighty inches. Antler beam diameter, not the number of tines, indicates age. In Haense, Elk antlers are usually larger than those of their Curonic counterparts, and have two lobes on each side, like a butterfly. Curonic Elk antlers resemble a seashell, with a single lobe on each side. 

    After the mating season, males drop, or shed their antlers to conserve energy for the winter. A new set of antlers will then regrow in the spring. Antlers take three to five months to fully develop, making them one of the fastest growing animal organs. Antler growth occurs by an extensive system of capillary vessels in the skin covering, giving them a ‘velvet’ texture. This requires intense grazing to sustain. By the onset of autumn, the velvet is removed by rubbing and thrashing which changes the colour of the antlers - from velvet brown, to bloody red, to a lighter bone colour. Immature bulls may not shed their antlers for the winter, retaining them until the following spring. Birds, small carnivores such as foxes and lynx, and rodents will eat dropped antlers for the nutrient rich velvet blood they leave behind.

A Bull Elk with a stately set of Antlers.

 

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    The Elk is a herbivore, and capable of consuming a wide variety of plants and fruit. Much of an Elk’s diet is derived from terrestrial vegetation, mainly consisting of ferns and other non-grasses, as well as fresh shoots from trees like willow, or birch. Around half of an Elk’s diet however, consists of aquatic plant life, a requirement they seemingly need to fulfill - or get quite ill and sickly. A Typical Elk, weighing eight-hundred pounds can eat up to eighty pounds of food per day. Elk lack upper front teeth, but have eight sharp incisors on their lower jaw. They also have a tough tongue, which aids in the eating of woody vegetation. They bear six pairs of flat molars, and ahead of those, six pairs of premolars, for which to grind their food. An Elk’s upper lip is sensitive, and prehensile, to grasp its food. In the summer, they may use this lip to grab branches, stripping the entire branch of leaves in one mouthful, or for pulling up plants, aquatic or otherwise by the base. An Elk’s diet often depends on its location, but they seem to prefer new growths from deciduous trees. To reach high up branches, an Elk may bend small saplings down, using its lip, mouth or body. 

    Elk eat many aquatic plants, including liles and pondweed. They are excellent swimmers, and are known to wade into deep water to find their preferred plants. This also serves a secondary purpose in cooling down on hot summer days,  and ridding itself of blackflies. Thusly, Elk are attracted to marshes and river banks during warmer months as both provide suitable vegetation to eat and water to cool themselves in. Elk are the only deer that are capable of feeding underwater. As an adaptation for underwater feeding, their nose is equipped with fatty pads and muscles that close the nostrils when exposed to water pressure, preventing water from entering their nose. Elk are not grazing animals, but browsers. Like the giraffe, they carefully select food. Unlike most hooved animals, Elk cannot eat hay, and the consumption of it may be fatal. 

An Elk in the aspens. 

 

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    Fully grown Elk have few enemies, par the wolf and the bear. Packs of wolves may pose a threat to isolated females with calves. Karovic bears may also prey on Elk, but this is very rare. However, Karovic bears are more likely to take over a wolf kill than to hunt an Elk on their own. Black bears and cougars may be significant predators of Elk calves in the summer months. The Wolverine are most likely to eat Elk as carrion, but have killed elk, including adults when the large ungulates are weakened by harsh winter conditions. Orcas are the Elk’s only known marine predator, as they have been known to prey on elk swimming between Islands. In some areas, Elk are the primary source of food for wolves. Elk usually flee upon detecting packs. Attacks may last seconds, though sometimes they may be drawn out for days whilst hunting adults. A hunting tactic is to chase the elk into streams or frozen rivers, where movement is greatly hampered. Elk will sometimes stand their ground, and defend themselves with a charge, or by kicking with their hooves. 

    Elk are a diurnal species. They are usually solitary with the strongest bonds being that between mother and calf. Although Elk rarely gather in groups, there may be several in a small area during mating seasons. Rutting and mating occurs during the autumn months. During the rut, mature bulls will cease feeding completely for a period of two weeks. The males are polygamous and will seek several females to breed with. During this time, both genders will call to each other. Males will fight for access to females. Initially, the males assess which of them is the most dominant, and a bull may retreat - however, this competition may escalate into a deadly, antler shattering fight. Female Elk have an eight month gestation period, usually bearing one or two calves. Newborn Elk have fur with a reddish hue, in contrast to the brown appearance of an adult. The young then stay with their mother until the next set are born. 

A Cow and her Calves.

 

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