# What Do Elks Eat?

> What elks eat: Herbivore — grasses, forbs, bark, and browse, foraging style, and seasonal shifts in Grasslands, open forests, and mountain meadows.

- **Species:** Elk (*Cervus canadensis*)
- **Conservation status:** Least Concern
- **Diet:** Herbivore — grasses, forbs, bark, and browse
- **Habitat:** Grasslands, open forests, and mountain meadows
- **Lifespan:** 10–15 years in the wild (up to 20 in protected areas)
- **Top speed:** Up to 72 km/h (45 mph) in short bursts
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/elk/what-do-elk-eat/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/elk/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

The elk, or wapiti, is one of the largest deer species in the world, with bulls weighing up to 450 kg (990 lb) and carrying impressive antlers shed each year. Elk herds graze open meadows and forest edges across western North America, and males produce a famous autumn bugle during the rut.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need a captive feeding plan from a veterinarian. This page is wild diet, not a pet-care sheet.

## The rut and bugling

Each autumn bull elk gather harems and bugle — a piercing call that carries across valleys to attract cows and warn rivals. Bulls clash antlers in shoving matches that can leave scars or broken tines. After the rut, bulls lose weight and shed their antlers in winter.

## Help protect the Elk

Elk migration routes are blocked by roads, fences, and development across western North America.

[Donate to habitat protection](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/habitat-loss-wildlife-extinction/)

---
Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/elk/what-do-elk-eat/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.