Elk have a distinct way of walking.
They walk on tiptoes.
Elk have four toes on each foot.
The back, small toes higher on
the foot are called dewclaws.
They provide balance and extra
grip when an elk runs on uneven
ground.
The large toes make up the elk's
hoof.
They are held in a tight
structure, so the elk can stay
up on its tiptoes and run fast.
Elk have a good sense of
hearing.
Their ears can swivel back and
forth to collect sound.
And they have a keen sense of
smell.
But elk spend a lot of time in
thick brush, so they can't
always detect who's nearby.
So, each elk has an individual
click sound that comes from the
ankle joint.
When it walks forward, it makes
that unique sound and its
friends know it's close by.
And because their eyes are on
the side of their heads, elk can
see in every direction except
directly in front or behind.
Elk can't see color as well as
we humans do but they have an
extraordinary ability to detect
movement.
That helps them see predators
and give them time to escape.
For more information about elk,
check out the science trek
website.
You'll find it at science trek
dot org