Elk Stag Beetle

Elk Stag Beetle

Lucanus elaphus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%

5 Verified sightings at Great Smoky Mountains National Park From 2019 to 2026
12 In all 2 parks
July Best month
☀️🌙 Day & Night When it's spotted

About the Elk Stag Beetle

Lucanus elaphus, the giant stag beetle, elk stag beetle, or erroneously as the elephant stag beetle, is a beetle of the family Lucanidae native to eastern North America. They are sometimes kept as pets. Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Congaree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
2 Great Smoky Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing an Elk Stag Beetle in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

Rare

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report an Elk Stag Beetle sighting in Great Smoky Mountains National Park on a given day, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 628th most-seen of the 822 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see an Elk Stag Beetle in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

July

In that month about 10% of wildlife watchers report an Elk Stag Beetle in Great Smoky Mountains National Park on a given day, against under 5% in August to June, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see an Elk Stag Beetle?

Between 11 am and 2 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Elk Stag Beetle sightings with a recorded time, and about 7 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is seen both by day and at night.

Is Great Smoky Mountains National Park the best place to see an Elk Stag Beetle?

2nd of 2

Of the 2 parks where we can rate Elk Stag Beetle sightings, Great Smoky Mountains National Park ranks 2nd at under 5%. The best odds are in Congaree National Park (United States, about 10%).

Where does the Elk Stag Beetle sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Elk Stag Beetle is recorded against all the insects logged in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (5 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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