What the sources say
ElkCervus canadensis
Every figure, record and mechanism on the Elk profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 65 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.
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Source
01
Brook et al. 2018
Brook et al. (2018). Cervus canadensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T55997823A142396828.
- The page saysLeast Concern
- The source says
Cervus canadensis is listed as Least Concern
Note: stats.conservationStatus. Text hand-cached from the Red List page (assessed 25 January 2015, errata version 2019) by the orchestrator, because iucnredlist.org refuses scripts.
Source
02
Reby et al. 2016
Reby et al. (2016). Evidence of biphonation and source–filter interactions in the bugles of male North American wapiti (Cervus canadensis). Journal of Experimental Biology.
- The page saysputs the average male at 320 kg
- The source says
With an average male body mass of 320 kg
- The page sayscalls the wapiti the largest living species of Old World deer
- The source says
is the largest extant species of Old World deer (Cervinae)
- The page saysSpectrograms of bugles point to two sound sources working at once
- The source says
Our examination of spectrograms of male bugles suggested that the complex harmonic structure is best explained by a dual-source model (biphonation)
- The page saysA bugle made of two sound sources at once
- The source says
the complex harmonic structure is best explained by a dual-source model (biphonation)
- The page saysOne averages 145 Hz
- The source says
with one source oscillating at a mean of 145 Hz (F0)
- The page saysThe other, averaging 1,426 Hz
- The source says
the other oscillating independently at an average of 1426 Hz (G0)
- The page saysbest fits a whistle made as air rushes through a narrow gap above the vocal folds
- The source says
the secondary, much higher source at G0 is more consistent with an aerodynamic whistle produced as air flows rapidly through a narrow supraglottic constriction
Note: Supraglottic means above the glottis, the opening between the vocal folds. Writer's plain-words gloss of the term; the source names an aerodynamic whistle at a narrow supraglottic constriction. - The page saysroughly ten times higher than the first
- The source says
one source oscillating at a mean of 145 Hz (F0) and the other oscillating independently at an average of 1426 Hz (G0)
Note: 1426 / 145 = 9.8. - The page saysThe researchers suspect the low part tells rivals about body size at close range, while the piercing whistle carries the bull's presence farther
- The source says
We speculate that male wapiti have evolved such a dual-source phonation to advertise body size at close range (with a relatively low-frequency F0 providing a dense spectrum to highlight size-related information contained in formants) while simultaneously advertising their presence over greater distances using the very high-amplitude G0 whistle component
- The page saysA 2016 study of wapiti calls
- The source says
With an average male body mass of 320 kg
Note: bugle-2016 is the 2016 Journal of Experimental Biology paper on wapiti bugles; the abstract on disk is the source of the 320 kg. - The page saysA call with two voices
- The source says
the complex harmonic structure is best explained by a dual-source model (biphonation)
- The page saysTwo voices in one throat
- The source says
the complex harmonic structure is best explained by a dual-source model (biphonation)
- The page saysSpectrograms suggest a bull elk's bugle holds two sounds at once
- The source says
Our examination of spectrograms of male bugles suggested that the complex harmonic structure is best explained by a dual-source model (biphonation)
Note: vibe.reason animal clause - The page saysa low tone averaging 145 Hz
- The source says
with one source oscillating at a mean of 145 Hz (F0)
Note: vibe.reason animal clause - The page saysa higher one averaging 1,426 Hz
- The source says
the other oscillating independently at an average of 1426 Hz (G0)
Note: vibe.reason animal clause
Source
03
Yellowstone National Park, National Park Service
Elk. Yellowstone National Park, National Park Service.
- The page saysIn Europe, "elk" is the word for a moose
- The source says
the word “elk” to describe the animal, which is the word used in Europe for moose
- The page sayswhich settlers in North America also called elk
- The source says
European American settlers used the word “elk” to describe the animal
- The page saysIts other name is wapiti, a Shawnee word for "white deer"
- The source says
The Shawnee word “wapiti,” which means “white deer” or “white-rumped deer,”
- The page saysbulls bugle to announce themselves to females and to challenge other bulls
- The source says
Bulls bugle to announce their availability and fitness to females and to warn and challenge other bulls.
- The page saysWhen two bulls answer each other, they sometimes crash antlers and shove
- The source says
When answered, bulls move toward one another and sometimes engage in battle for access to the cows. They crash their antlers together, push each other intensely
- The page saysThe fights are loud and hard work, but they rarely cause serious injury
- The source says
While loud and extremely strenuous, fights rarely cause serious injury.
- The page saysBulls carry antlers, and a cow very occasionally grows a pair too
- The source says
Antlers are usually symmetrical and occur on males, or very occasionally females.
- The page saysIn a mature bull, growth takes about 140 days
- The source says
longest for healthy, mature bulls (about 140 days)
- The page saysIn the second half of that time, the antlers add two-thirds of an inch (about 1.7 cm) a day
- The source says
Roughly 70% of the antler growth takes place in the last half of the period, when the antlers of a mature bull will grow two-thirds of an inch each day.
Note: 1.7 cm is the conversion of two-thirds of an inch. - The page saysantlers regrow every year at up to two-thirds of an inch a day
- The source says
Roughly 70% of the antler growth takes place in the last half of the period, when the antlers of a mature bull will grow two-thirds of an inch each day.
Note: Tagline. - The page says55 to 60 inches long and just under six feet wide
- The source says
The antlers of a typical, healthy bull are 55–60 inches long, just under six feet wide, and weigh about 30 pounds per pair.
- The page saysthe pair weighs about 30 pounds
- The source says
The antlers of a typical, healthy bull are 55–60 inches long, just under six feet wide, and weigh about 30 pounds per pair.
- The page saysAntlered bulls usually settle disputes by wrestling, and they keep the antlers through winter
- The source says
Bulls retain their antlers through the winter. When antlered, bulls usually settle disputes by wrestling with their antlers.
- The page saysYellowstone is summer range for an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 elk
- The source says
Yellowstone provides summer range for an estimated 10,000–20,000 elk
- The page saysthey make up about 85% of the wolf kills there in winter
- The source says
elk comprise approximately 85% of winter wolf kills and are an important food for bears, mountain lions
- The page saysThey are also an important food for bears and mountain lions
- The source says
elk comprise approximately 85% of winter wolf kills and are an important food for bears, mountain lions
- The page saysMost bulls drop them in March and April
- The source says
Most bulls drop their antlers in March and April. New growth begins soon after.
- The page saysnew ones start growing soon after
- The source says
Most bulls drop their antlers in March and April. New growth begins soon after.
- The page saysUsually around early August the bull scrapes off the fuzzy skin covering the new antlers
- The source says
Usually around early August, further hormonal changes signal the end of antler growth, and the bull begins scraping the velvet off, polishing and sharpening the antlers in the process.
- The page sayswhich also polishes and sharpens them
- The source says
Usually around early August, further hormonal changes signal the end of antler growth, and the bull begins scraping the velvet off, polishing and sharpening the antlers in the process.
- The page saysAround Yellowstone the menu also includes aspen bark, conifer needles and aquatic plants
- The source says
Feed on grasses, sedges, other herbs and shrubs, bark of aspen trees, conifer needles, burned bark, aquatic plants.
- The page saysA bull sheds his old pair and grows a new one each year
- The source says
The first result of this change is the casting or shedding of the previous year’s “rack.” Most bulls drop their antlers in March and April. New growth begins soon after.
- The page saysOne name, two animals
- The source says
European American settlers used the word “elk” to describe the animal, which is the word used in Europe for moose
Note: Heading: the same word names this animal in North America and the moose in Europe. - The page saystags: grassland
- The source says
The high elevation grasslands of the park provide summer habitat for 10,000–20,000 elk.
Note: #998
Source
04
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, National Park Service
Elk. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, National Park Service.
- The page saysbegan bringing elk back in 2001
- The source says
The reintroduction of elk to the park began in 2001
Source
05
Rocky Mountain National Park, National Park Service
Elk. Rocky Mountain National Park, National Park Service.
- The page saysA big bull can weigh 700 to 1,000 pounds
- The source says
Large males, called bulls, can weigh 700-1000 pounds and stand five feet at the shoulder
- The page saysroughly 320 to 450 kg
- The source says
Large males, called bulls, can weigh 700-1000 pounds and stand five feet at the shoulder
Note: Metric conversion of 700-1000 pounds (317 to 454 kg). - The page saysHe stands about five feet (1.5 m) tall at the shoulder
- The source says
Large males, called bulls, can weigh 700-1000 pounds and stand five feet at the shoulder
Note: 1.5 m is the conversion of five feet. - The page saysmeasures about eight feet from nose to tail
- The source says
They are about 8 feet long from nose to tail.
- The page saysCows are smaller, at 300 to 500 pounds
- The source says
They weigh around 300-500 pounds
- The page saysThe sound starts deep, rises to a squeal, then drops into grunts
- The source says
a crescendo of deep, resonant tones that rise rapidly to a high-pitched squeal before dropping to a series of grunts
- The page saysElk mostly graze on grasses and forbs
- The source says
Elk primarily graze on grasses and forbs but they also browse shrubs.
- The page saysGrasses and forbs, plus shrubs
- The source says
Elk primarily graze on grasses and forbs but they also browse shrubs.
- The page saysthey also browse shrubs
- The source says
Elk primarily graze on grasses and forbs but they also browse shrubs.
- The page saysIn the Rocky Mountains, herds climb to high country in summer and drop to lower ground in winter
- The source says
In the summer, herds move to higher elevations to feed on tundra vegetation, while in the winter they move down to lower elevations
- The page saysMeadows and forest edges in North America
- The source says
Look for elk in meadows and where meadow and forest meet.
Note: North America: the Yellowstone page says most scientists refer to elk in North America as Cervus canadensis. - The page sayson high mountain summer range and lower winter valleys
- The source says
In the summer, herds move to higher elevations to feed on tundra vegetation, while in the winter they move down to lower elevations
- The page saysElk in the wild live 10 to 13 years
- The source says
Free roaming elk have a lifespan of 10-13 years in the wild.
- The page saysAround Rocky Mountain National Park, settlers hunted them hard
- The source says
they hunted elk intensively, sending much of the meat to market in Denver.
- The page saysby 1890 few, if any, were left
- The source says
By 1890 few, if any, elk remained.
- The page saysIn 1913 and 1914 people moved 49 elk in from Yellowstone
- The source says
In 1913 and 1914, before the national park's establishment, the Estes Valley Improvement Association and United States Forest Service transplanted 49 elk from Yellowstone National Park to this area.
- The page saysA calf weighs about 30 pounds (roughly 14 kg) and is born spotted, from late May into June
- The source says
Elk calves are born from late May into June and weigh about 30 pounds.
Note: 14 kg is the conversion of 30 pounds. Spots: 'Newborns have spots' on the same page. - The page saysis born spotted
- The source says
Newborns have spots, which fade away by late summer.
- The page saysIt can join the herd after two weeks, and it is weaned at two months old
- The source says
Calves can join the herd after two weeks and are weaned at two months old.
- The page saysAbout 20 pounds (9 kg) of plants on average
- The source says
They eat an average of 20 pounds of vegetation daily.
Note: 9 kg is the conversion of 20 pounds. - The page saystags: forest
- The source says
Look for elk in meadows and where meadow and forest meet.
Note: #998 - The page saysdangerLevel: High
- The source says
Cows are extremely protective of their calves so use caution around elk at this time of year.
Note: #998; capability reading, as moose and bison
Source
06
Tian 2019
Tian (2019). Winter home range of the Manchurian wapiti (Cervus canadensis xanthopygus) based on noninvasive sampling. Applied Ecology and Environmental Research.
- The page saysand parts of China
- The source says
The current distribution of Manchurian wapiti is mainly limited to some parts of Northeast China (Heilongjiang, Inner Mongolia, and Jilin Provinces), Ningxia, Xinjiang, Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, and Tibet
Note: #998 habitat line - The page saysIt lives in Asia too: one subspecies, the Manchurian wapiti, survives in parts of China, from the north-east to Tibet.
- The source says
The current distribution of Manchurian wapiti is mainly limited to some parts of Northeast China (Heilongjiang, Inner Mongolia, and Jilin Provinces), Ningxia, Xinjiang, Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, and Tibet
Note: #998; the paper names it Cervus canadensis xanthopygus
How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.