October 13th, 2006
Roosevelt Elk at Prairie Creek
Another first on this trip. Over the past week, I’ve been seeing Roosevelt Elk (Cervus elaphus roosevelti) at several locations near Prairie Creek in the Redwood National Forest. The first time that we came upon a herd, we pulled off the highway to watch them grazing in a field at dusk. The whistling call of the bull elk could easily be heard from considerable distance. It turns out that the elk are a common sight along Hwy 101 as the animals are often seen wandering across fields or around buildings on either side of the road. The elk in this photo was seen along Davidson Road when we were on our way through a section of the park. It was foraging for long grasses that were growing beneath an old piece of equipment. Although the elk seem unconcerned by spectators watching from their automobiles, there are warning signs posted instructing visitors not to approach the elk (seems like prudent advice as, despite their placid appearance, they are not tame). More information on the Roosevelt Elk can be found on this page.
Tags: Roosevelt Elk, Cervus elaphus roosevelti, Prairie Creek