WildView™

January 1, 2025

An Elk Adventure

- as seen by -

Stacy Ratel @back_yard_birdie

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There’s something thrilling about wildlife photography – the unpredictability of it all. I never know if I’ll see anything, or if I’m lucky, I might witness something magnificent.

As the golden sun began its descent, an awe-inspiring scene unfolded – a herd of 26 elk (Cervus canadensis ‘nelsoni’) cows, a few calves, and one enormous bull elk, accompanied by two smaller bulls. The calves nursed beneath their mothers, while the cows grazed, never straying too far. If a cow did wander off, the dominant bull would swiftly round her up, nudging her back into the protective circle. Within this space, the calves moved freely weaving between their mothers and siblings. Two calves splashed in a mud puddle, their cloven, heart-shaped hooves creating ripples in the water.

Elk calves are born with spots on their shaggy fur, a natural camouflage that protects them from predators during their early months. These spots eventually fade as the calves grow and strengthen.

Conservation efforts have allowed the elk population to steadily grow and thrive. Habitat preservation remains critical.

Canon R5 with 100-500 lens and 1.4 extender

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