All of the readers who entered last week's Wild Guess contest correctly named the antlers shown at right, including one 6-year-old boy.
At one time, elk were as common as their much smaller cousins, the white-tailed deer, in Pennsylvania's forests.
Once settlers arrived, however, elk disappeared, most likely killed for their meat. By 1867, the species was completely gone from the state, according to the state Game Commission.
In time, it also was exterminated in New York and parts of New England.
Now, elk are back - in still-limited numbers - in the northcentral counties of Elk, Potter, Cameron, Clearfield and Clinton.
Their range covers about 835 square miles, according to the Game Commission.
The agency has established a hunting season for the herd.
The elk is the second largest member of the deer family in North America, outranked only by the moose.
Male elk, called bulls, can stand up to 60 inches at the shoulder and may weigh up to 1,000 pounds.
Females, called cows, top out at about 600 pounds.
Young, called calves, are born in May and June.
In fall, bulls will challenge each other for the right to mate with cows.
Elk are well known for their bugling cries, made by bulls during the mating season.
Comments
from readers:
"My guess for this week is an elk. It is a special trip to go to Benezette to see the elk at dusk and hear them bugling. The new visitor's center is beautiful and very interesting. Some of the elk come very close at the viewing area at the visitor's center. It is worth a trip."
Ginny English
Red Rock Mountain
