Other Large Hoofed Animals

Compiled by Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University:

Damage Caused By Other Large Hoofed Animals

In addition to deer, certain other large hoofed animals such as elk (Cervus canadensis), moose (Alces alces) and pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) are known to also feed on woody trees and shrubs.

Elk are famous for “barking” aspen trunks up to a height of about six feet. If excessive or followed by fungal infection, this can be a serious injury. In addition, over half of their winter diet in some parts of the region consists of browsed shrub and tree buds and small branches.

Moose do not typically do as much bark damage to trees as elk, but consume large quantities of small stems, branches, buds and leaves. They are particularly fond of willow, so much so that game regulations pertaining to moose can be based on local consumption of this resource. Other favored plants include aspen and birch, with other habitat requirements being spruce, fir or lodgepole pine cover.

Pronghorn seldom cause problems with trees, but do include some woody shrubs in their winter diet, notably sagebrush and bitterbrush.

As with deer, perhaps the only reliable way to prevent woody plant injury with other large hoofed animals is isolation of valuable plantings with fences (see deer section for types). This can be quite expensive and impractical in certain areas. Conflicts sometimes arise between human neighbors of mountain communities, when one person attracts these animals with supplemental feeding stations (salt blocks, hay, etc.) and another person wishes to dissuade them because of plant damage. This becomes a sociological problem, not an animal damage problem. Continuing this theme, another approach which has met with mixed success, is the establishment of food plots. To have any chance of success, the idea is to provide a food at a location somewhat removed from valuable plants that is more desirable to the animals than those being protected. Alfalfa and wheat are sometimes used for food plots. Putting desirable food items within or near valuable plants invites trouble.