Exploring the Elk of Cataloochee Field Trip Worksheet for Age 14

Instructions

1. Read each section before beginning the field trip.
2. Observe elk from a safe distance. Never approach, feed, call to, or surround an elk.
3. Record evidence carefully. If you do not see elk, record signs such as tracks, droppings, sounds, or feeding areas.
4. Use complete sentences for explanation questions.
5. Complete the optional challenge if you have extra time.

Field-trip focus: You are a wildlife biologist studying the elk herd in Cataloochee Valley, part of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Your goal is to collect observations without disturbing the animals.

Learning Goals

By the end of this activity, you should be able to:

• Describe physical and behavioral adaptations of elk.
• Explain how elk interact with their habitat and other organisms.
• Collect and organize field observations.
• Use evidence to make reasonable conclusions about wildlife conservation.

Section 1: Before You Observe

A. Make a prediction

What do you predict elk will be doing during your visit? Explain why.

B. Choose the best answer

1. Elk are best described as:

   • A. Reptiles that eat insects
   • B. Herbivorous mammals that eat plants
   • C. Birds that migrate seasonally
   • D. Carnivorous mammals that hunt in packs

2. A male elk is called a:

   • A. Doe
   • B. Calf
   • C. Bull
   • D. Kid

3. Why should visitors keep a safe distance from elk?

   • A. Elk cannot see people from far away.
   • B. Elk may feel threatened and behave unpredictably.
   • C. Elk need visitors to guide them.
   • D. Elk are always asleep during the day.

4. Which observation is evidence that elk use an area for feeding?

   • A. Freshly grazed grass
   • B. A paved road
   • C. A parked vehicle
   • D. A cloudy sky

Section 2: Elk Adaptations

Match each adaptation with its likely function. Write the correct letter on each line.

• A. Helps break down grasses and other tough plants
• B. Helps detect sounds and locate possible danger
• C. Helps with movement through uneven terrain
• D. Helps with competition and display during the breeding season
• E. Helps provide insulation in cool weather

Think like a scientist: Choose one adaptation from the table. Explain how it helps an elk survive in Cataloochee Valley.

Section 3: Field Observation Log

Record only what you actually observe. Use estimated numbers when an exact count is not possible.

Example row: One elk | Open meadow | Feeding | 100 meters | Grassland near tree line

Behavior word bank: feeding, resting, walking, running, alert, grooming, calling, interacting, standing

Section 4: Analyze Your Evidence

1. Which habitat did the elk appear to use most often? What evidence supports your answer?

2. What was the most common behavior you observed?

3. Did the elk seem to be alone, in small groups, or in a large herd? Describe your evidence.

4. Identify one possible food source for elk in the area. How could you tell that it might be food?

5. Identify one factor that could affect where elk move. Choose one or add your own.

• Food availability
• Water
• Weather
• Roads or vehicles
• Other animals
• People
• Other: __

Explain your choice.

Section 5: Matching Elk to Their Ecosystem

Write the best ecosystem role beside each item.

Possible roles: herbivore, seed disperser, competitor, nutrient source, wildlife affected by human activity

Section 6: Conservation Case Study

The elk herd in Cataloochee was reintroduced to the Great Smoky Mountains in the early 2000s. Reintroduction means that a species is returned to an area where it once lived.

A park team notices the following:

• The elk herd is growing.
• Some elk are feeding near roads.
• Visitors sometimes move too close for photographs.
• Young trees are being eaten in several areas.

Answer the questions below.

1. Write one possible benefit of having elk in the park.

2. Write one possible challenge caused by a growing elk herd.

3. Suggest one action visitors can take to protect elk and themselves.

4. Suggest one action park managers could take to reduce conflict between elk, plants, vehicles, and visitors.

5. Which action would be most important? Use evidence from the case study to defend your answer.

Section 7: Field Sketch and Reflection

Create a quick field sketch of the habitat you observed. Include and label at least four features, such as:

• Elk or evidence of elk
• Grass, shrubs, or trees
• A mountain slope or valley
• Water
• A road, trail, or viewing area
• Other animals or signs of human activity

Sketch space:

Reflection: How did observing elk in their habitat give you information that a photograph or textbook might not show?

Optional Challenge

Use your observation log to design a simple investigation.

1. Write a question that could be studied about elk behavior or habitat use.

2. Identify the independent variable, or factor you would compare.

3. Identify the dependent variable, or result you would measure.

4. What safety or ethical rule would your investigation need to follow?

Answer Key

Section 1

A. Prediction: Answers will vary. A reasonable prediction might be that elk will feed, rest, or move through open meadows because these areas provide food and visibility.

B.

1. B. Herbivorous mammals that eat plants
2. C. Bull
3. B. Elk may feel threatened and behave unpredictably.
4. A. Freshly grazed grass

Section 2

1. B. Helps detect sounds and locate possible danger
2. C. Helps with movement through uneven terrain
3. A. Helps break down grasses and other tough plants
4. E. Helps provide insulation in cool weather
5. D. Helps with competition and display during the breeding season

Adaptation explanation: Answers will vary. For example, flat grinding teeth help elk chew grasses and other tough plants, allowing them to obtain energy from abundant plant food.

Section 3

Answers depend on field observations. If no elk are seen, acceptable evidence may include tracks, droppings, grazed plants, sounds, or areas that appear to be used by elk.

Section 4

1. Answers depend on recorded evidence. A strong response names a habitat and refers to one or more observations.
2. Answers depend on the observation log. Common behaviors may include feeding, resting, walking, or standing alert.
3. Answers depend on observations. Students should support the answer with estimated numbers or descriptions.
4. Possible answers include grasses, shrubs, leaves, tree bark, or aquatic plants. Evidence might include grazing marks or the elk being observed eating the plant.
5. Answers will vary. The explanation should connect the chosen factor to elk movement.

Section 5

Section 6

1. Possible benefits include supporting biodiversity, contributing to food webs, providing opportunities for scientific study, and restoring a native species.
2. Possible challenges include overgrazing, damage to young trees, competition for food, vehicle collisions, or conflicts with visitors.
3. Visitors should stay far away, remain quiet, never feed elk, follow park rules, and keep vehicles at safe speeds.
4. Possible actions include protecting sensitive areas, improving signs, creating viewing guidelines, restoring vegetation, monitoring the herd, or managing traffic near elk habitat.
5. Answers will vary. A strong response identifies one action and supports it with evidence from the case study.

Optional Challenge

Answers will vary. A strong investigation includes a measurable question, a clearly identified factor being compared, a measurable result, and a plan that does not approach, feed, frighten, or disturb elk.