• Calves are born and can walk within an hour.

The Eurasian elk and North American elk have a typical lifespan ranging from 19 years and 2 months to 31 years and 11 months, although the maximum recorded lifespan is 27 years, with a theoretical lifespan between 17 years and 11 months and 25 years and 7 months. The species reaches sexual maturity between 1 year and 7 months and 2 years and 7 months of age, and the young are born with their eyes open and begin walking immediately. During the embryonic stage, the fetus develops inside the mother and receives nourishment via the placenta. The calf stage follows, where the young consume milk and learn to forage for plants, lasting from 1 day to 6 months. Subsequently, the adult stage begins, lasting from 2 years to 21 years and 11 months, during which the elk independently obtains food and participates in reproduction.