{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "elk",
  "name": "Elk",
  "scientificName": "Cervus canadensis",
  "category": "Mammal",
  "summary": "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.",
  "conservationStatus": "Least Concern",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Mammalia",
    "order": "Artiodactyla",
    "family": "Cervidae",
    "genus": "Cervus"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 320,
    "lengthM": 2.7,
    "topSpeedKmh": 72,
    "lifespanYears": 15
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Cervus canadensis"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Herbivore — grasses, forbs, bark, and browse"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Grasslands, open forests, and mountain meadows"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "10–15 years in the wild (up to 20 in protected areas)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "Bulls up to 450 kg (990 lb); cows about 230–270 kg"
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "Up to 72 km/h (45 mph) in short bursts"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Least Concern (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Western North America from Canada through the United States, with introduced herds in several eastern states; related red deer populations occur in East Asia.",
    "continents": [
      "North America",
      "Asia"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Cervus canadensis.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Cervus%20canadensis&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Cervus canadensis. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Cervus_canadensis/"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/elk/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/elk/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}