Elk are smarter than the average deer

The huge North American ‘elk’ is also known as the ‘wapiti’ (‘white rump’ in the Cree language).

It was treated as a race of the red deer until DNA analysis suggested that it be deemed a distinct species. The Japanese sika deer, introduced to Wicklow and Killarney, is a close relative.

The wapiti I encountered in Yellowstone, 40 years ago, were amazingly trusting. You have to stalk red deer to get close to them in Ireland.