Elk
Photo: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
While elk were known to Eastern Americans, Lewis and Clark encountered the Rocky Mountain subspecies in prodigious numbers and provided detailed descriptions that distinguished it from the eastern variety. Elk were a critical food source for the expedition, particularly during the winter at Fort Clatsop where they subsisted almost entirely on elk meat. Lewis recorded killing 131 elk during their Pacific coast winter, documenting the species’ behavior, antler growth, and seasonal movements.
Journal Excerpt
Lewis, March 12, 1806: "The Elk is a much more eligible animal for the voyager than either the deer or the Antilope. it is more easily approached and in this country is much more abundant. the flesh is more nutritious, and a far greater quantity obtained from each animal."
Where it’s being seen today
1 research-grade iNaturalist observation between 2025–2025. Most recent: 2025-06-23. Sourced from Terrain360 trail captures, cached locally.
Journal References
15 journal entries mention Elk
