Then, as suddenly as they started frolicking, they quiet down and return to feeding. Instinct drives elk to behave in ways that promote the survival of their species by protecting and promoting their ability to reproduce. Their seasonal movements, their choices of calving grounds, feeding and resting places, even their social groups promote their reproductive fitness. Biologists say that play is fun for animals, and also helps young animals develop the coordination and strength they need to evade predators. Play also helps keep adults fit.
Elk behave in similar ways wherever they live, but the details vary with specific habitat.
For this discussion about behavior, we will follow a generic group of elk living in the mountains of the western United States. Spring On the Move Lengthening days, warming temperatures, and melting snow all signal the start of spring movement for many elk in the Rocky Mountain region. They follow the melting snow to find newly exposed fresh vegetation at increasingly higher elevations. This migration may take only a few days or it may go on for two months. Bulls begin to migrate first.