A cow elk and its calf are seen in a meadow with flowering Arnica. An elk calfs gestation period is about 245 days and the calves are born with white spots to help them blend into their surroundings. These markings fade by about three months of age. When born calves weigh about 35 pounds, but by its first winter an elk calf may weigh five times as much as when it was born. Photo © copyright by Dr. Edward Mikol.