Elk

There is a penetrating stillness that permeates the vibrant call of the elk. The native american Shawnee tribe call them waapiti which means white rump. Although inhabiting parts of Asia, the elk has been a dominant symbol of North America. The largest species of elk is named after the American president Teddy Roosevelt. The Lakota native americans believed that the mythical or spiritual elk, not the physical one, was the teacher of men and the embodiment of strength, sexual prowess and courage. These massive animals can weigh between 500 and 1,300 pounds and grow up to 8 feet long.