Elk once native to the hardwood forests of the Ozarks became extinct there by the 1840s, but after local citizens urged action, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission reintroduced 112 Rocky Mountain elk along the Buffalo River in 1981. These large members of the deer family adapted to their new habitat, though parasites, poaching, and road kills have limited population growth. Even so, elk appear to be extending their range in the Buffalo River region, where they graze or rest in clearings and open spaces. They may weigh up to 800 pounds, compared to a 150-pound white-tailed deer.