Do you know the difference between horns and antlers?
Antlers:
Are on animals like deer, moose, and elk – this is the Cervidae family1&2
Grow from the top, instead of the base2
Are shed every year, and grow the same way each year3
Are used to display dominance by males during breeding season3
Horns:
Are on animals like cows, goats, and sheep – this is the Bovinae family1&3
Are found on both males and females1
Grow from the base and are permanent1
Are covered in keratin1
Big antlers signal that a male is healthy because it takes a lot of energy to grow them. Males will shed their antlers after breeding season. After a couple of weeks, they’ll start to regrow them.3 Shed antlers are a great source of nutrition for other animals – they can get vital nutrients by eating them.2
