Herd of Roosevelt elk in the Olympic National Park
Roosevelt elk, named after U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, are one of two subspecies native to Washington, the other being Rocky Mountain elk. Roosevelt elk are typically found to the west of Interstate 5. However, some elk herds, like those near Mount St. Helens and Mount Rainier, are a mix of the two subspecies due to reintroduction efforts in the early 20th century that brought Rocky Mountain elk into Roosevelt elk range.
Olympic National Park is home to around 5,000 Roosevelt elk, the largest known population living anywhere.
Check out our November 2023 blog post on Roosevelt elk!
Description and Range
Roosevelt elk are the largest elk subspecies in North America; males, called bulls, can weigh 700 to 1,200 pounds. They tend to be slightly darker than Rocky Mountain elk, often with shorter, thicker antlers. They form smaller herds and don’t have the large seasonal migrations that Rocky Mountain elk do.
Roosevelt elk prefer temperate rainforests and thrive in places with meadows, timber harvests, or other openings where sunlight hits the forest floor and helps to grow vegetation. They also rely on older forests with large trees for shelter during severe rain and extreme cold or heat.