Elk Sounds

[Swede]

Elk call in many different ways. Are the sounds they deliberately make, a reaction, an impulse, a language or something else?

[Elkhunttoo]

I think it is mostly instinctive. It definitely becomes a language to them but I think most of there sounds are made instinctively. Jmo and I sure could be wrong

[Swede]

I agree with Elkhunttoo. Elk don't have a conversation like in a Disney movie or Loonie Tunes. Still they convey a message that is understood the same as a command given to a dog can be understood. That is why what we call needs to make sense. We would not say "sic-em" to the dog when the mail man was walking our way down the sidewalk. Except, maybe at the first of the month.

[Heartwood]

By definition, language is a human trait only. The sounds elk make are probably learned from other elk or maybe some are instinctive. It would be interesting to see if an elk isolated at birth from other elk, would still make normal elk sounds. I think that we refer to elk sounds as a language because that is what it is to us as humans and that is perfectly fine. I think it is cool that elk are so vocal and make such varied sounds and that the sounds have so many meanings.