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Friday, December 27, 2019

Nature Friday - The Sights and Sounds of our Elk Herd

Our elk herd has been here since October, living among us for the snowy season.

It makes my heart sing to see them as I drive, ride my bike, or hike near our house. They spend many days within a quarter mile of us.


They are one reason why I never leave my house without a camera. Who knows when they'll be hanging out with our snowy mountains in the background?

Some big bull elk are still hanging out the herd. This guy arrived with a BIG harem of cow elk back in October. He kept up his "rut season" bugling until late November.

He's not huge by Rocky Mountain National Park standards (where elk cannot be hunted) but he is big for our area where elk are heavily hunted.

In November, the herd visited a pond where I have a trail camera. They rushed past the camera but they made amazing sounds when they stopped near it. The bull bugled and the mother-calf pairs mewed back and forth. Some of their vocalizations remind me of whale sounds.

I made a short video so that you could hear the herd. I hope that you have time to enjoy it!


14 comments:

  1. You live in an amazing area of the country. Such beauty in both the landscape and the wildlife.

    Have a fabulous day and weekend. Scritches to the pups. ♥

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  2. Hari OM
    Wapiti! I kinda prefer the native name - especially as it gets confusing over here, our 'elk' actually being moose (Anglicised from Swedish 'alg')! The herd certainly looks thriving... I was sad to read earlier this year of the demise of the Caribou in the lower 48.

    Thank you for all your recording of your environment. I am certain it is an important record! YAM xx

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  3. sounds I have never heard. they are amazing to look at in your photos and truly amazing sounds... he sounds like he means business... I love Yam's Wapiti info.. sounds more romantic than elk... they are beautiful. love their funny rumps

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  4. What great pictures and sounds of your elk. Thanks for always carrying your camera with you and of course all those trail cams you maintain too.

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  5. They do sounds whale-like. They are sooooooo beautiful!

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  6. Such beautiful and regal animals! Love the bugling.

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  7. What interesting noises they make! If you hadn't told us, I would have wondered what the heck that was! I wish we had elk here, they are so beautiful!
    Jan, Wag 'n Woof Pets

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  8. They pose beautifully too...the camera loves them.
    Video WOW
    Hugs Cecilia

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  9. They do sound like whales. What eerie sounds if you are forewarned.

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  10. The moose are sure fun to watch and actual hear too!

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  11. They do sound whale like. I did not know that about them,

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  12. such majestic animals. We are thinking of going to Jackson Hole, WY and taking the sleigh ride through the Elk Refuge
    hugs
    Mabel & Hilda

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  13. Wowzers! That is a big elk herd. How fun to run into that kind of stuff just when you are out and about.

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