Pennsylvania Elk-The Velvet Is Shed: 2010

In last week's Camera Critters, I posted photos from years past of Pennsylvania Bull Elk in various stages of the velvet shedding process.  This was in anticipation of an upcoming trip to Pennsylvania Elk Country this past week.

Two of the bulls that I photographed this week served to illustrate the point that there are no hard and fast rules in nature.  In last week's post I stated , "once the process begins, it is usually completed in a day or so", but the most commonly seen bulls this week were clear exceptions to the rule.


This first animal featured today had a small strip of loose velvet dangling from one antler and small blood spots throughout the velvet, when I sighted him on Tuesday morning. The small strip of loose velvet was gone by that evening, but little else was changed.  I saw him several times during the trip and when I photographed him for the final time on Friday morning he looked much the same as he did at the time of my first encounter with him..

6x6 Bull In Early Stages Of Shedding Velvet

In most cases, once the velvet cracks and dangles in strips, the bulls rub trees, saplings, and the ground in an effort to dislodge it, but the largest bull I photographed seemed to have an aversion to doing this as he had long strips of dried velvet dangling from his antlers throughout the week.  I was around him for extensive periods of time on several occasions, but not once did he rub his antlers against anything.

Dried Velvet Hanging In Strips

While the long range forecast for the trip, called for hot and humid weather with a lot of clouds and showers, it actually turned out to be clear and beautiful much of the time, with only fluffy white cumulus clouds in the sky, which resulted in some spectacular sunsets and I can think of few better ways to end a day afield than by photographing the fiery show that nature provides as the sun drops below the horizon.

Elk Country Sunset

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Originally posted at Pennsylvania Wildlife Photographer by Willard Hill

Pennsylvania Elk: The Velvet Is Shed

This is a period of change in Pennsylvania's elk country as the bulls shed their velvet.  Antlers are shed in late winter and early spring with new antler growth beginning almost immediately. The new antlers are covered with "velvet" which is composed of a soft velvety feeling tissue, which contains a network of blood vessels that carry nourishment to the developing antlers.  The antlers reach their full size during July and by early August the velvet begins to dry and crack and eventually peel away, exposing the hard bone like antlers that the animal will carry throughout the autumn and winter.

Some of the bulls begin the velvet shedding process in early to mid-August, while others complete it later in the month.  It is fairly safe to say that almost all but a few of the spikes have lost the velvet by the beginning of September.

At first the velvet cracks and bloody spots appear.  The animals may feel an itching sensation as it is common to see them  rubbing their antlers against trees and saplings at this time.

Cracks In The Velvet And Spots Of Blood Indicate Velvet Will Be Shed Soon:"Fred" Bull 36 Aug. 14, 2007

Once the process begins it is usually completed in a day or so.  When the velvet is completely ready to be shed, the animals hasten the process along by aggressively horning trees, saplings, and the ground.
At this point it is common to see the velvet hanging from the antlers in long loose strips.

Strips Of Velvet Hanging From Antlers: August 18, 2008

Bulls With Shedding Completed: August 16, 2007

It is reasonably safe to say that last week and this coming week is the best period to witness this exciting event in the life cycle of the elk and that visitors to the elk range can expect to encounter bulls in various stages of the process during the coming week.

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Originally posted by Willard Hill at Pennsylvania Wildlife Photographer