Foods Eaten by the Rocky Mountain Elk

Abstract

Forty-eight food habits studies were combined to determine what plants are normally eaten by Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus canadensis nelsoni), and the relative value of these plants from a manager's viewpoint based on the response elk have exhibited toward them. Plant species are classified as highly valuable, valuable, or least valuabie on the basis of their contribution to the diet in food habits studies where they were recorded. A total of 159 forbs, 59 grasses, and 95 shrubs are listed as elk forage and categorized according to relative value.