elk are deer but not all deer
are elk.

Confused?

Deer is an overall name for many
animals in the hoofed ruminants

family, including others like
moose and reindeer.

While elk and deer share a
family classification, there are

some key differences between the
two.

Elk are much larger.

A male elk can weigh as much as
700 pounds, a male deer buck

would average about 250 pounds.

Elk and deer prefer to live in
different habitats.

Elk like to live in forested,
mountainous regions with open

grasslands.

Deer like to live in more varied
places, like deserts, plains,

woodlands and tundra.

Deer like to eat the soft tips
of shrubs and bushes.

While Elk eat mostly grasses and
soft-stemmed plants.

And elk and deer make different
sounds.

Deer are quieter.

They make a hoarse, high-pitched
sound, sort of like a goat's

bleat.

While female elk chirp, mew and
squeal, and male elk bugle.

For more information about elk,
check out the science trek

website.

You'll find it at science trek
dot org