North American elk (Cervus canadensis) were susceptible to experimental bluetongue virus (BTV) infection although clinical signs were mild or inapparent. A viremia of significant magnitude and duration occured in all five experimental elk following subcutaneous inoculation. Elk developed BTV antibody by the second or third week after exposure and antibody was still present in the sera of all animals at the termination of the experiment at 6 or 7 months. The possible role of elk in the epizootiology of bluetongue was discussed.