Based on past history it is likely closer to 20, plus in There is currently no breeding population of elk in New Hampshire. According an an interesting article in the Wildlife Journal , elk are not native to the state. A few were introduced in as a gift, and again in The population grew locally, enough to become a nuisance to crops.
The state allowed a two day hunting spree to bring the numbers down. There are no wild elk found in New Jersey today, and we did not find any evidence of planned reintroduction efforts. However since neighboring Pennsylvania does have an elk population, it is possible a roaming elk or two may cross the boarder occasionally.
Reintroduction efforts with Yellowstone elk began as early as and finished in The elk have flourished. As of September estimates for the elk population in New Mexico are 70, — 90, animals. One of the most popular elk viewing spots is the Valle Vidal.
It is believed the last elk was killed in New York around Several attempts at reestablishing a small population were made between — , mainly in the Adirondack region. These attempts were ultimately unsuccessful due to poaching and disease.
In the late s a report was released that stated there were three areas in the state that could feasibly sustain a small population of elk, the Adirondacks, the Catskills and and area in the south western part of the state. As of today no reintroduction effort has yet been made. An elk restoration was initiated in when 52 elk from the Manitoban subspecies were released into the Cataloochee Valley area of Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Today, — elk reside in the state, with some of that population straying outside of the park boundaries.
For more information see the North Carolina wildlife resources commission page. Elk in North Dakota were doing so well around that the state felt the population was becoming too large in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and elk were removed.
Pervious estimates suggest approximately — elk in the state. The larger portion of the population continues to be in the western part of the state, especially west of the Little Missouri River.
Many conservationists are hoping for a reintroduction program in the state. Ohio State University performed a feasibility study and found three main areas that they believe could support a reintroduction, Wayne National Forest, Shawnee State Forest and the reclaimed strip mine areas. According to a quote from the Wildlife Department made in a news article, the current elk population in Oklahoma is about 5, The largest free ranging elk herd in the state is in the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge.
Other large herds can be found at the Pushmataha, Cookson Hills, Spavinaw, and Cherokee wildlife management areas. The state has managed annual hunting to keep the population within a reasonable range, since there are not many natural predators of the elk left in Oklahoma.
There are two subspecies of elk found in Oregon. The Roosevelt elk and the Rocky Mountain elk. The Roosevelt elk are found mostly in the western part of the state in the Cascade and coastal ranges. The Rocky Mountain elk stay mainly in the eastern part of the state with a large group in the Blue Mountains.
This brings the total elk population in Oregon to approximately , The last native elk was reported in Pennsylvania in the s. A careful balancing act of hunting, protection and land use have seen the elk numbers up and down in the state. Today there are about 1, elk in Pennsylvania. There is no breeding population of elk in Rhode Island. A local game preserve is trying to get a bill passed that would allow elk to be imported onto private land for the purposes of hunting.
As of writing this article it does not appear that bill has passed. The Rhode Island DEM is very concerned about any imported cervids members of the deer family potential to introduce chronic wasting disease to the local populations of animals in the deer.
South Carolina does not currently have a population of elk. The state confirmed that they do not currently have plans to establish a population of elk in South Carolina. But it will be interesting to see what the SCDNR decides to do if more elk continue to cross the boarder.
After being extirpated in the late s, elk have been successfully reestablished in South Dakota. In the April state wildlife report , estimates put the elk population in the Black Hills at approximately 6, — 8,, and the population in Custer State Park at approximately Native elk held on in Tennessee until A restoration plan with elk from Alberta took place in — in Scott, Morgan, Anderson, Claiborne and Campbell counties.
This was the designated elk restoration zone. Hunting was prohibited until to help the population grow. Today there are about elk in Tennessee. However between strategic reintroduction and possibly some natural boarder crossing from New Mexico, a small population of elk has been reestablished in the state. It is believed many of these elk traveled across the boarder from New Mexico. We were not able to find any recent population estimates other than a estimate of 1, elk.
Utah has an estimated elk population of around 80, animals. They are most common in the mountainous areas, spending the summer in the forests and meadows and winter in the valleys. This is attributed to the availability of habitat. Today, the population growth is more stable due to careful monitoring and harvesting.
Elk are the top big game species in Utah next to mule deer. There are no wild elk living in Vermont today. There are small populations kept on private lands, and sometimes these escape like this story of 16 farm elk that got loose in Derby in We did not see any talks to reintroduce elk, and deer remain the main cervids of the state.
The last known native elk in Virginia was killed in In Virginia did attempt an elk reintroduction and released an unknown number of the animals into several counties.
Two small herds held on for many years, but ultimately they dwindled and the last elk died around The elk are mainly found in Buchcanan, Dickenson and Wise counties. Washington has an estimated 60, Rocky Mountain and Roosevelt elk. The Roosevelt elk tend to be found in the western part of the state, and the Rocky Mountain elk in the east. The two biggest herds, out of the states 10 herd locations, are the Yakima herd approximately 12, elk and the Mount St Helens herd approximately 11 — 13, elk.
Until recently, elk had been extirpated from West Virginia for more than years. A restoration effort began in earnest in when a small number of elk were imported from Kentucky, and then another small group in from Arizona. The current population estimate for elk in West Virginia as of fall is 85 animals.
Habitat loss and overhunting wiped out the elk from Wisconsin by the s. Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in the northwest portion of Wisconsin received the first 25 reintroduced elk in The main elk herd is still there today, with a smaller herd in the central portion of the state at Black River State Forest.
It also has three pairs of antennae, a large one and two smaller ones, which are its main sensory organs and act a bit like our nose and fingers. Around its mouth are small appendages called maxillipeds and mandibles which help direct food to the mouth and chew. Lobsters have ten legs, making them decapod ten-legged crustaceans, a group to which shrimp and crabs also belong other arthropods have a different number of legs, like spiders, which have eight, and insects, which have six.
Four pairs of these legs are used mainly to walk and are called pereiopods. The remaining pair, at the front of the cephalothorax, are called chelipeds and each of those limbs ends with a claw. These claws help the lobster defend itself, but also capture and consume its prey. Each claw serves a different purpose: the bigger, blunter one is used for crushing, and the smaller one with sharper edges, for cutting. The Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica is a medium-sized songbird, about the size of a sparrow.
It measures between 15 and 18 centimeters cm in length and 29 to 32 cm in wingspan, and weighs between 15 and 20 grams g. Its back and tail plumage is a distinctive steely, iridescent blue, with light brown or rust belly and a chestnut-coloured throat and forehead. Their long forked tail and pointed wings also make them easily recognizable. Both sexes may look similar, but females are typically not as brightly coloured and have shorter tails than males.
When perched, this swallow looks almost conical because of its flat, short head, very short neck and its long body. Although the average lifespan of a Barn Swallow is about four years, a North American individual older than eight years and a European individual older than 16 years have been observed. Sights and sounds: Like all swallows, the Barn Swallow is diurnal —it is active during the day, from dusk to dawn. It is an agile flyer that creates very acrobatic patterns in flight.
It can fly from very close to the ground or water to more than 30 m heights. When not in flight, the Barn Swallow can be observed perched on fences, wires, TV antennas or dead branches. Both male and female Barn Swallows sing both individually and in groups in a wide variety of twitters, warbles, whirrs and chirps.
They give a loud call when threatened, to which other swallows will react, leaving their nests to defend the area. Freshwater turtles are reptiles, like snakes, crocodilians and lizards.
They also have a scaly skin, enabling them, as opposed to most amphibians, to live outside of water. Also like many reptile species, turtles lay eggs they are oviparous. But what makes them different to other reptiles is that turtles have a shell.
This shell, composed of a carapace in the back and a plastron on the belly, is made of bony plates. These bones are covered by horny scutes made of keratin like human fingernails or leathery skin, depending on the species. All Canadian freshwater turtles can retreat in their shells and hide their entire body except the Common Snapping Turtle Chelydra serpentina. This shell is considered perhaps the most efficient form of armour in the animal kingdom, as adult turtles are very likely to survive from one year to the next.
Indeed, turtles have an impressively long life for such small animals. Most other species can live for more than 20 years. There are about species of turtles throughout the world, inhabiting a great variety of terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems on every continent except Antarctica and its waters.
In Canada, eight native species of freshwater turtles and four species of marine turtles can be observed. Another species, the Pacific Pond Turtle Clemmys marmorata , is now Extirpated, having disappeared from its Canadian range. Also, the Eastern Box Turtle Terrapene carolina has either such a small population that it is nearly Extirpated, or the few individuals found in Canada are actually pets released in the wild.
More research is needed to know if these turtles are still native individuals. Finally, the Red-eared Slider Trachemys scripta elegans , has been introduced to Canada as released pets and, thus, is not a native species. Females tend to be slightly larger than males but are otherwise identical.
As its name implies, it is pale tan to reddish or dark brown with a slightly paler belly, and ears and wings that are dark brown to black. Contrary to popular belief, Little Brown Bats, like all other bats, are not blind. Still, since they are nocturnal and must navigate in the darkness, they are one of the few terrestrial mammals that use echolocation to gather information on their surroundings and where prey are situated.
The echolocation calls they make, similar to clicking noises, bounce off objects and this echo is processed by the bat to get the information they need. These noises are at a very high frequency, and so cannot be heard by humans.
Narwhals Monodon monoceros are considered medium-sized odontocetes, or toothed whales the largest being the sperm whale, and the smallest, the harbour porpoise , being of a similar size to the beluga, its close relative. Males can grow up to 6. Females tend to be smaller, with an average size of 4 m and a maximum size of 5.
A newborn calf is about 1. Like belugas, they have a small head, a stocky body and short, round flippers. Narwhals lack a dorsal fin on their backs, but they do have a dorsal ridge about 5 cm high that covers about half their backs. This ridge can be used by researchers to differentiate one narwhal from another.
It is thought that the absence of dorsal fin actually helps the narwhal navigate among sea ice. Unlike other cetaceans —the order which comprises all whales—, narwhals have convex tail flukes, or tail fins.
These whales have a mottled black and white, grey or brownish back, but the rest of the body mainly its underside is white. Newborn narwhal calves are pale grey to light brownish, developing the adult darker colouring at about 4 years old. As they grow older, they will progressively become paler again. Some may live up to years, but most probably live to be 60 years of age. Although the second, smaller incisor tooth often remains embedded in the skull, it rarely but on occasion develops into a second tusk.
Tusks typically grow only on males, but a few females have also been observed with short tusks. The function of the tusk remains a mystery, but several hypotheses have been proposed. Many experts believe that it is a secondary sexual character, similar to deer antlers.
Thus, the length of the tusk may indicate social rank through dominance hierarchies and assist in competition for access to females. Indeed, there are indications that the tusks are used by male narwhals for fighting each other or perhaps other species, like the beluga or killer whale.
A high quantity of tubules and nerve endings in the pulp —the soft tissue inside teeth — of the tusk have at least one scientist thinking that it could be a highly sensitive sensory organ, able to detect subtle changes in temperature, salinity or pressure. Narwhals have not been observed using their tusk to break sea ice, despite popular belief. Narwhals do occasionally break the tip of their tusk though which can never be repaired. This is more often seen in old animals and gives more evidence that the tusk might be used for sexual competition.
Of the species of woodpeckers worldwide, 13 are found in Canada. The smallest and perhaps most familiar species in Canada is the Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens. It is also the most common woodpecker in eastern North America. This woodpecker is black and white with a broad white stripe down the back from the shoulders to the rump.
The crown of the head is black; the cheeks and neck are adorned with black and white lines. Male and female Downy Woodpeckers are about the same size, weighing from 21 to 28 g. The male has a small scarlet patch, like a red pompom, at the back of the crown. The Downy Woodpecker looks much like the larger Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus , but there are some differences between them.
The Downy is about 6 cm smaller than the Hairy, measuring only 15 to 18 cm from the tip of its bill to the tip of its tail. Woodpeckers are a family of birds sharing several characteristics that separate them from other avian families. Most of the special features of their anatomy are associated with the ability to dig holes in wood. The straight, chisel-shaped bill is formed of strong bone overlaid with a hard covering and is quite broad at the nostrils in order to spread the force of pecking.
A covering of feathers over the nostrils keeps out pieces of wood and wood powder. The pelvic bones are wide, allowing for attachment of muscles strong enough to move and hold the tail, which is important for climbing. Another special anatomical trait of woodpeckers is the long, barbed tongue that searches crevices and cracks for food.
The salivary glands produce a sticky, glue-like substance that coats the tongue and, along with the barbs, makes the tongue an efficient device for capturing insects. Signs and sounds. As early as February or March a Downy Woodpecker pair indicate that they are occupying their nesting site by flying around it and by drumming short, fast tattoos with their bills on dry twigs or other resonant objects scattered about the territory.
The drumming serves as a means of communication between the members of the pair as well. Downys also have a variety of calls. They utter a tick, tchick, tcherrick , and both the male and the female add a sharp whinnying call during the nesting season. Hatchlings give a low, rhythmic pip note, which seems to indicate contentment. When a parent enters the nest cavity, the nestlings utter a rasping begging call, which becomes stronger and longer as the chicks mature.
Everyone who has visited the coast is familiar with gulls, those graceful, long-winged birds that throng the beaches and harbours and boldly beg for scraps. The gulls are a family of birds that live mainly at sea, either along the shore, or out in the ocean itself.
Worldwide, there are more than species of birds that live either partially or exclusively at sea, and these are generally known as "seabirds. The table below lists the 14 families of marine birds and the approximate number of species in each the exact number of species is continually being revised as genetic research reveals that some very similar-looking birds are so different in their genetic makeup that they constitute different species.
All species belonging to the albatross, auk, frigatebird, gannet, penguin, petrel, and storm-petrel families feed exclusively at sea. In addition, many species of cormorants, grebes, gulls, jaegers, loons, pelicans and terns feed either entirely or mainly at sea. The Phalaropes are the only shorebirds that feed at sea.
The number of species that breed in Canada are shown in parentheses. Ducks and grebes that feed at sea are not included. One of the heaviest of North American owls, the Snowy Owl Bubo scandiacus stands nearly half a metre tall, with a wingspan of almost 1.
As is the case with most diurnal birds of prey—those that are active during the day—the female is larger and heavier than the male. The average weight of the female is 2. Adult males may be almost pure white in colour. Adult females are darker, their white feathers barred with dark brown. First-year birds of both sexes are more darkly marked than their adult counterparts.
Immature males resemble adult females, and immature females are heavily barred and may appear dark grey when seen from a distance. The light coloration of Snowy Owls provides camouflage when the owls are perched on snow, but this advantage is lost in summer. As spring approaches and the ground becomes bare, Snowy Owls move to sit on patches of snow or ice. No one knows whether they do this to camouflage themselves or whether they are merely keeping insects away or staying cool.
In strong wind, Snowy Owls may seek shelter by crouching on the ground behind a windbreak, such as a pile of stones, snowdrift, or bale of hay. Of the 19 species of raptors, or birds of prey, in Canada, three are Accipiters. Accipiters are small to medium-sized hawks of swift flight that occur around the world. Accipiters can be distinguished from other types of hawks by their flight silhouettes see sketch. Like the buteos e. In contrast, the wings of another group of hawks, the falcons, such as the Kestrel or Sparrow Hawk Falco sparverius , are pointed.
All accipiters generally have similar colouring, small heads, long tails, and short rounded wings. The female of each species grows larger than the male. They range in size from the small male Sharp-shinned Hawk, which is smaller than a gull, to the large female Northern Goshawk, which at 55 to 66 cm is larger than a crow.
The Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus , formerly known as the Whistling Swan, is a large bird with white plumage and black legs, feet, and beak. However, when it is feeding in iron-rich areas, the feathers on its head and neck may take on a reddish tinge. The male weighs on average 7. The adult female is about the same size as the male but weighs slightly less, about 6. The young of the year are smaller than the adults and have grey plumage, pinkish beaks with black tips, and pink legs and feet.
It takes at least two years for adult plumage to grow in. There are seven species of swans in the world. One non-native species, the Mute Swan, is found in North America,. People brought Mute Swans from Europe and Asia for ornamental display in parks and zoos, and now this species is found in the wild in certain parts of the continent.
The Tundra Swan is the most common of the three species of swan found in Canada. Although Trumpeter Swans are slightly larger than Tundra Swans, it is very difficult to tell the two species apart. At close range, a small yellow mark at the base of the bill, close to the eye, can be seen on the Tundra Swan. There is no such mark on the Trumpeter Swan.
Signs and sounds Although very similar in appearance, the Trumpeter Swan and the Tundra Swan have quite different voices. The Trumpeter Swan has a deep, resonant, brassy, trumpet-like voice; the voice of the Tundra Swan is softer and more melodious. The call is pitched lower than a whistle and more closely resembles a blowing or tearing sound.
When thousands of birds are concentrated at a migratory staging point, the level of sound is very high, particularly at night when much of the social activity takes place. Skip to main content. Photo: Kay-Liam Dunn. At a Glance. Elk Tracks. Common Raven vs American Crow Birds Atlantic Cod Atlantic Cod Youth Atlantic Cod 15 seconds Atlantic Cod 30 seconds Atlantic Cod The Atlantic Cod Gadus morhua is a medium to large saltwater fish: generally averaging two to three kilograms in weight and about 65 to centimetres in length, the largest cod on record weighed about kg and was more than cm long!
The Atlantic Cod may live as long as 25 years. Unique characteristics The Right Whale has a bit of an unusual name. This is called "chewing cud", and it helps large animals to survive on meager rations. The adaptable elk also grow double coats for winter time that are lighter in color than their summertime garb, to help them blend in. In the spring, they tend to look a little shabby as the fur falls out and is replaced by their rich, single-layered coppery colored summer coat.
Elk are social animals who live in same-sex herds of 10 to 20 individuals, that are loosely structured, and may come together in much larger groups, particularly as they migrate to higher ground. The springtime migration of elk may bring together thousands of animals into one massive herd as they seek out green pastures. Elk range across much of North America, where they once numbered nearly ten million individuals.
The North American elk is also called a wapiti, which means "white rear" in the language of the Shawnee Indians, and refers to the distinctive, beige area of fur surrounding the elks tail. They were a vital part of the lives of native Americans, who fashioned elk bones and elk antlers into various tools, weapons and decorations, made clothing and tents from elk hides, and consumed or cured elk meat to survive. The Lakota Sioux also treasured the elk, and male babies were awarded elk ivories to bring long life and prosperity.
The Lakota people believed the spirit of the elk brought wisdom and courage to them, and was a symbol of potency. After European settlers arrived, and with the increase in farming, the elk population dwindled, and by the early 's, only about 90, elk remained.
Today, however, elk populations are healthy, and number close to one million animals across Canada and the United States. Elk are generally peaceful, social creatures that live together in large herds and cooperate to protect themselves from predators. In late winter and spring, herds of elk, called gangs, are divided by sex. Females may congregate in huge gangs with several hundred members. These include their youngsters from the year before, and are usually guided by a few older members who decide where to graze, when to rest, and when to start migrations.
Migrating is an important tool in the elks survival, and timing is critical. In the winter months, elk must be near forested areas with many trees for cover, and also to strip the bark. When spring is near, the females in charge begin to head towards valleys where seasonal grasses will soon emerge. Feasting on freshly sprouted greenery is key to the elk replenishing itself after the harsh winter, during which they may loose up to pounds.
Male elk may stay alone for awhile after the rut, as long as their antlers stay. The antlers allow them to protect themselves from predators, but weakened bulls will join up early, before their antlers fall, and enjoy the safety of a group. Male herds, because they don't include offspring, are generally smaller and more fluid, with members coming and going. Both sexes, however, may meet up and move together in massive herds during the migration, which, in places like Yellowstone national park, may number in the thousands.
Breeding season for elk is late August through early October, and is referred to as the rut. The decrease in daylight brought on by shortening days, triggers a surge in hormones, and while female elk enter estrus at this time, bull elk go through some physical changes as well.
As testosterone and melatonin levels increase, the antlers of the male elk calcify beneath the velvet, and he scrapes the soft covering off against trees and stones, revealing a sharp, fresh rack of points.
To prepare for jousting, the male elks neck actually gains muscle mass, his mane grows fuller, and the voice box thickens, creating the correct tone for effective bugling. Then males compete for territory and ranking, jousting with eachother, as well as shrubs, tree stumps and sometimes cars and mailboxes.
The males size each other up by walking in parallel lines , then turning their racks in, lowering their heads and testing their rivals strength. A few swishes back and forth, knocking antlers together, and then they brace against eachother and drive forward with straining legs, attempting to push straight through the enemy.
Injuries don't usually occur and the contests last only a few minutes.
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