Elk, also known as wapiti, are large mammals that are native to North America. In the wintertime, elk have a number of different adaptations that help them stay warm in cold weather. One of the main ways that elk stay warm in the winter is by growing a thick, insulating coat of fur. This fur is made up of two layers: a soft, downy undercoat, and a longer, coarser outer...

Taken by Estes Park Tour Guides Image: Ewe(female) Sheep   Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep have been the symbol of RMNP. The herd size and health has fluctuated in population due to hunting and poor conservation in the early 1900's due to their meat and horns being prized by settlers. The RMNP bighorn sheep herd today is more prominent along the eastern boundary of the park and the surviving native herds have continued...