But if the winter is extremely cold, has exceptionally deep snow, and lasts a long time, many elk may die. Those that survive a severe winter are still in danger because their fat reserves are depleted, and the remaining vegetation is at its yearly nutritional low point. An adult elk may starve in that lean time before the new growth of spring begins. Somehow they have to keep their body temperature steady no matter how extreme the weather. After all, they don't have the luxury of peeling off a shirt or zipping up a parka.
Elk have only two coats one for summer and one for winter.
Their coats help them regulate their body temperatures. Twice a year, they shed every hair on their body. Their spring shedding is noticeable because ragged tatters of old winter hair dangle like long scraggly beards from their necks and sides. By July their winter coat is completely replaced by their summer coat. This summer coat is a thin, sleek layer of short hair that is the color of copper.