Elk cows and calves in January 2012
Two cows and two calves were moving from a pasture into timber here. The day was overcast and snowing lightly in early January 2012. To me, the interesting behavior was how the two cows stayed so close together as they milled around while I snapped the photos. When I left, they continued to calmly move up into the timber.
Notes of interest: This time of year, the elk cows and calves hang out in smaller groups. These two cows are probably pregnant and in the pasture looking for areas that are free of snow and covered with nutritious grass.
Also, notice the shorter snouts/jaws on the calves. Young deer have shorter snouts, too. If you see an lone deer or elk (when alone it is difficult to compare or know their size) and the snout looks proportionately short, it is likely a very young animal (from my observations - not scientific).
To age an elk or deer on the hoof, one can only guess based on size, body shape, antlers if present, etc. and those factors will vary greatly depending on nutrition quality and quantity available to the animal.
The most accurate way to age a mammal is forensic aging. To do this one has to remove the two center, front most teeth in the lower jaw, prepare a very thin stained slice, and count the rings of cementum under a microscope – just like counting the rings on a cross section of a tree. This method is known as cementum annuli (annuli means rings).
Read MoreNotes of interest: This time of year, the elk cows and calves hang out in smaller groups. These two cows are probably pregnant and in the pasture looking for areas that are free of snow and covered with nutritious grass.
Also, notice the shorter snouts/jaws on the calves. Young deer have shorter snouts, too. If you see an lone deer or elk (when alone it is difficult to compare or know their size) and the snout looks proportionately short, it is likely a very young animal (from my observations - not scientific).
To age an elk or deer on the hoof, one can only guess based on size, body shape, antlers if present, etc. and those factors will vary greatly depending on nutrition quality and quantity available to the animal.
The most accurate way to age a mammal is forensic aging. To do this one has to remove the two center, front most teeth in the lower jaw, prepare a very thin stained slice, and count the rings of cementum under a microscope – just like counting the rings on a cross section of a tree. This method is known as cementum annuli (annuli means rings).
