The Wapiti became the official state mammal of Utah in 1971. Translated literally as "white rump" in the Shawnee language, what is a Wapiti?

Rocky Mountain elk can be found throughout Utah in the mountains. When it's hot in the summer, elk live high up in the mountain. As fall descends on the state, the elk head down into the valleys. During the winter, they hang out in the valleys where it's warmer for them and there's more food.

Asked by Tom Cohen · Last updated 5 years ago · 13.6K views