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Elk have a distinct way of walking.

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They walk on tiptoes.

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Elk have four toes on each foot.

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The back, small toes higher on
the foot are called dewclaws.

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They provide balance and extra
grip when an elk runs on uneven

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ground.

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The large toes make up the elk's
hoof.

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They are held in a tight
structure, so the elk can stay

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up on its tiptoes and run fast.

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Elk have a good sense of
hearing.

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Their ears can swivel back and
forth to collect sound.

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And they have a keen sense of
smell.

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But elk spend a lot of time in
thick brush, so they can't

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always detect who's nearby.

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So, each elk has an individual
click sound that comes from the

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ankle joint.

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When it walks forward, it makes
that unique sound and its

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friends know it's close by.

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And because their eyes are on
the side of their heads, elk can

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see in every direction except
directly in front or behind.

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Elk can't see color as well as
we humans do but they have an

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extraordinary ability to detect
movement.

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That helps them see predators
and give them time to escape.

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For more information about elk,
check out the science trek

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website.

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You'll find it at science trek
dot org