Before white setters arrived in Pennsylvania, the eastern elk lived throughout the state. By 1867 the species had been extirpated, ultimitely it became extict throughout it range, which included New York and New Engaland. The elk is the second largest member of the deer family in North Amercia, only the moose is larger. Females, or cows, weigh 500-600 pounds. Elk can run 30 miles per hour for short distances, and can trot for miles.
Elk have a summer and a winter coat.
The summer coat is short, thin, and colored reddish brown. In witner, long, coarse guard hairs overlay wooly underfur. This time, an elk's body is tawny brown or bronish gray, with the neck, chest and legs dark brown, and the underpants darker than the back. Sexes are colored alike. Young elk, called calves, aredappled with spots.