Their large eyes, positioned on the sides of the head give them nearly 360-degree vision. Their large ears can twist and turn forward and back. By traveling in herds, they insure that there is always a lookout. In the park, black bears would be the only predator that might take a yearling or adult cow. Bears, coyotes and bobcats might try for a newborn Elk are probably the noisiest of the deer family.
Mothers recognize the squeals of their newborns.
There are miscellaneous grunts, mews and chirps that appear to be communication between herd members and the bugling of bull elks is legendary. Bulls bugle during the rut as an advertisement to nearby cows and a warning to nearby bulls. Elk eat a variety of foods. During spring and summer elk are predominantly grazers, feeding on a variety of grasses. During the winter they browse and also add bark twigs and tree lichens to their diet.