Two subspecies of elk are found in Washington. Rocky Mountain elk are found in eastern Washington and stem from elk transplanted from Yellowstone National Park in the early 1900s. “Wapiti” is the name for Rocky Mountain elk in the Shawnee language and means “white rump.”
Elk require large amounts of food because of their body size and herding tendencies. In spring and summer, elk are mainly grazers – eating grasses, sedges and a variety of flowering plants. In the fall, they browse – on sprouts and branches of shrubs and trees. Year-round ranges for Rocky Mountain elk vary from 2,500 to 10,000 acres, and usually include distinct summering and wintering areas.
Eastern Adams County has seen its share of elk herds, some numbering in the hundreds. One herd has made its home near this area, while farther south a very large herd migrates in the early spring.