Nobody: Instagram bots: “Do you like me?” Elk are one of the largest members of the deer family. Large males, called bulls, can weigh several hundred pounds and stand five feet at the shoulder. Females are called cows and are roughly half that size. A dark brown mane, light-brown bodies and white rumps characterize both sexes. They grow a thicker coat of hair each winter which they shed each spring. Elk are highly social animals and travel in various herd sizes throughout the year. At @rockynps, herds can grow as large as a few hundred individuals. Elk have a large range and move according to seasonal food availability. In the summer, herds move to higher elevations to feed on tundra vegetation, while in the winter they move down to lower elevations of the park and down into the Front Range. If you see an elk, maintain a safe distance. If they’re offering to pay off the debts of the first five who bugle back, don’t. It’s a trap! Image: A large elk looking over its backside while standing in woods. #elk #rockymountainnationalpark #colorado #nature #winter #greatoutdoors