Yearling males successfully breed in a reintroduced elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) population in Kentucky

Jeffery L. Larkin, David S. Maehr, John J. Cox, Charles Logsdon

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

We examined reproductive performance of yearling males in a recently established free-ranging elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni, Erxleben) population in southeastern Kentucky. Sixteen of 18 (89%) adult females bred by yearling males produced a calf. The calving period, determined for 11 cows, peaked in mid-June; however, 3 females bred by yearlings did not calf until mid-July or August. It is not possible to attribute the extended calving period to breeding by yearling males, as it may have been a result of poor physical condition of females or the disruption of social bonds after translocation the previous winter.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)279-286
Number of pages8
JournalSoutheastern Naturalist
Volume1
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2002

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

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