But this is not a true indication of age. A young bull in excellent health may have the same number of tines as a much older bull in poorer condition. In contrast, elk are both grazers and browsers. In summer they eat lots of grasses, plants and leaves to fatten up for the fall mating season and the long winter ahead. In winter, dried woody food such as dried grasses, twigs and bark makes up the majority of their diet and takes longer to digest.
Most elk move around to find the best food available.
The elk of Banff National Park are considered to be partial migrants. This means that some of them migrate at certain times of the year or disperse to new areas. Some stay in the same area all their lives. Others may switch depending on the conditions of habitat. Cougars, wolves, and bears are the natural enemies of elk.