
5 SURPRISING FACTS ABOUT ELK ANTLERS 1. ELK ANTLER RETENTION IS TESTOSTERONE-DRIVEN Elk antlers begin to form immediately after the last set is shed. Because elk antler grows faster than any other tissue in its body, a healthy bull can grow nearly one inch of antler every single day, leaving them with a fully formed set of antlers within the next few months. In many cases, disputes with predators or other bulls will cause these antlers to break off, but they’ll actually shed on their own if left undamaged. Why? Because an elk’s ability to retain its antlers is driven by its testosterone levels. After mating season ends, the level of doe pheromones in the air decreases, causing bull testosterone to drop as well. Once a bull loses enough testosterone, its body will pick up on the change and begin to shed its antlers in response. 2. DIFFERENT ELK POPULATIONS HAVE UNIQUE ANTLERS There are many subspecies of elk, and at least six variants live in North America. Over time and multiple gene
Post: 21 May 17:25