I came across this fellow as I was driving through northern BC during the summer of 2024. He was grazing on dandelions and patiently allowed me to take several photos of him. He was so content grazing that I was able to move up a couple times to get closer for better photos all while keeping a safe distance.

I was surprised to learn that in Europe Elk are what we call Moose in North America. Wapiti and Red Deer are two names that could be used instead to help prevent confusion although I have only known them to be called Elk until I looked up more about them. On another search on the internet I found it interesting to learn that Elk symbolize protection from evil.

Elk are the largest species in the Deer family. There are two species of Elk: "Rocky Mountain" and "Roosevelt". This fellow is a "Rocky Mountain Elk" while the ones on Vancouver Island are the "Roosevelt Elk".

"Elk have been part of the North American environment since the ice age. These large, social, vocal animals left British Columbia completely during the last glacial advance but repopulated both the wet coast and dry interior after the ice melted. Early

explorers in eastern North America named this animal Elk, even though Europeans used the same term (spelled elch) for Moose. To avoid confusion, some people have suggested giving the North American Elk the Shawnee Indian name, wapiti, but today most people continue to use the term Elk to refer to the North American forms of the Red Deer (Cervus elaphus)." from the Government of BC Reference