* Time of year: Elk eat more during the winter when they need to store energy for the cold and less in the summer when food is abundant.
* Sex and age: Bulls generally eat more than cows, and calves eat more than adults.
* Pregnancy: Pregnant cows eat more to nourish their developing offspring.
* Availability of food: When food is scarce, elk will eat more of what is available, even if it's not their preferred food.
General Estimates:
* Average: A healthy adult elk consumes about 5-10% of its body weight in food daily.
* Summer: During summer, elk may eat up to 15-20% of their body weight.
* Winter: In winter, elk may eat less than 5% of their body weight.
Example:
A 500-pound elk might eat:
* Summer: 75-100 pounds of food daily
* Winter: 25 pounds of food daily
Diet:
Elk are herbivores and primarily eat:
* Grasses: They consume a variety of grasses, including bluegrass, fescue, and wheatgrass.
* Forbs: These are non-grassy flowering plants, such as clover, dandelion, and wildflowers.
* Browse: Twigs, leaves, and bark from trees and shrubs, such as willows, aspen, and maple.
Important Note: These are just estimates, and individual elk may eat more or less depending on their specific circumstances.