Tag: elk

Can you spot the Yellowstone elk in striking ‘moonset’ image?

Photo shared by Yellowstone National Park features a lone elk that may or may not be easy for viewers to locate.

Yellowstone National Park, five years ago this month, shared a striking image captured at sunrise, showing the moon setting behind a barren slope, informing Facebook followers that they’d earn “bonus points” if they could spot the elk.

Can you spot the elk in the accompanying image? (Answer below.)

The image was captured in late October, when as many as 20,000 elk inhabit the park, before the winter migration.

Can you spot the elk in this autumn sunrise image? Photo: Yellowstone National Park

The time frame coincides with the end of the rut, or mating season, which occurs primarily in the park’s northern range.

For some who posted in the comments section, locating the elk appeared to have been easy, while at least one person claimed success only after increasing the image size.

“Found the elk, but do you give bonus points if I had to blow it up to find it?” the follower joked.

The image was captured at Mammoth Hot Springs in the northwestern portion of the park.

The moon is setting behind Sepulcher Mountain (9,642 feet) between Electric Peak (10,969 feet) and Mammoth Hot Springs, a famous elk gathering spot.

If you haven’t already located the elk, the answer is provided in the image posted below.

Lone elk shown below mountain ridge at sunrise. Photo: Yellowstone National Park

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Golfer shown aiming shots at elk herd; where’s the outrage?

Colorado tour guide threatens to call the cops after documenting golfer seemingly directing his shot toward a nearby elk herd.

A Colorado-based tour company on Monday shared footage showing a golfer seemingly trying to hit elk that had gathered on a driving range.

“This guy was intentionally hitting golf balls at this elk – this was not the first. What would you do?” Good Bull Guided Tours stated Monday via Instagram.

Good Bull Guided Tours specializes in providing elk encounters for clients. The elk that had wandered onto the practice facility included a bull and his harem.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DASLQ2qOgAZ/

The footage shows the golfer hitting a ball with an iron and narrowly missing the bull elk.

“If you want to keep hitting at the elk, I’ll happily send the video into the cops,” the videographer says to the golfer, as another man blasts a driver down the middle, away from the elk.

As of the time of this post, Good Bull Guided Tours had not responded to an inquiry from FTW Outdoors requesting more information.

Perhaps surprisingly, several people in the Instagram comments section defended the golfer.

“Definitely not going to hurt an elk with a golf ball,” one comment reads.

“It’s a golf range, not an animal sanctuary, if I paid for balls I’m hitting ’em,” another follower stated.

But a few expressed anger at the golfer’s careless actions.

Reads one comment: “The best thing would have been for those Elk to turn around and charge at them.”

Idaho hunters kill grizzly bear after one hunter is attacked

The two men were archery hunting for elk when the bear charged from close range, biting one man and knocking him to the ground.

An archery hunter in Idaho was knocked to the ground and bitten by a grizzly bear Sunday, but he and his partner pulled sidearms and killed the bear.

Both men dialed 911 after the incident. As Monday afternoon, the injured hunter was recovering from non-life-threatening wounds at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.

According to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the hunters were targeting elk west of Henrys Lake in Island Park when the attack occurred.

“Both men were able to utilize their sidearms to shoot the bear, deterring the attack,” Fish and Game explained in a news release.

Conservation officers responded to the scene and determined “that the hunters acted in self-defense during a surprise encounter with the bear from a very close distance.”

Grizzly bears are protected by state and federal law. Killing them while hunting is legal only in self-defense.

Henrys Lake is in the Caribou-Targhee National Park, about 15 miles west of Yellowstone National Park.

–Grizzly bear image courtesy of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game

Watch: Yellowstone elk turns tables on wolf after stirring chase

Dramatic video footage shows an elk running for its life while being chased by a wolf in Yellowstone National Park, but the elk’s odds of survival suddenly improve.

A Wyoming-based guide has captured dramatic footage showing an elk running for its life while being chased by a wolf in Yellowstone National Park.

Bo Welden’s footage (posted below) begins with text informing viewers to prepare for an “expected outcome.”

While that’s a vague hint of what’s to come, viewers can see from the outset that this is an emergency situation for a cow elk that appears to be on her own.

Several seconds pass with the wolf, exhibiting remarkable stamina, attempting to catch the elk as both animals sprint across the rugged landscape.

But soon the elk reaches its herd and the dynamic changes. The elk that was fleeing, now with the herd’s support, begins to chase the wolf, which barely escapes.

Welden, who guides for Jackson Hole Wildlife Ecotour Adventures, explained the “expected outcome” statement via Instagram:

“Have you ever tried to catch and kill your food with your face? Plus your food runs 30+ miles an hour, one stomp from a powerful hoof kills/injures you, and has a fierce motherly instinct! It’s no easy task.”

Gray wolves (some are black) typically require the strength of a pack to take down a healthy adult elk.

Welden told FTW Outdoors that the chase occurred in Hayden Valley and that the black wolf in the footage is a member of the Wapiti Lake Pack.

–Generic black wolf image from Hayden Valley courtesy of Scott Thomas

8-year-old girl attacked by a cow elk while riding her bike

A wildlife manager in Colorado called the attack “unusual and unfortunate” as the girl was thought to be a safe distance away.

An 8-year-old girl was riding her bike in a neighborhood of Estes Park, Colorado, on Thursday afternoon when a cow elk gave chase and attacked, stomping on her multiple times.

The girl, who was thought to be a safe distance away, was approximately 60 yards from the elk when it charged around 1 p.m., the Colorado Parks and Wildlife reported Friday. Experts recommend remaining at least 25 yards from elk, as stated by MyColoradoParks.com and Lost Outfitters.

The girl was taken to a nearby hospital where she was treated and released later that day.

“This is an unusual and unfortunate situation where a young girl was playing outside, far from the calf, and a cow elk became aggressive to protect her newborn,” said Jason Duetsch, Area Wildlife Manager for CPW.

“While it is a natural reaction for cow elk to be very defensive during calving season, it is not often they hurt someone, especially a child. We’re happy the girl is recovering from her injuries and wish her continued healing.”

A wildlife officer was sent to the scene where he found the cow elk and its young calf. When the elk became aggressive toward the officer, the officer hazed the elk by firing a non-lethal bean bag round at the animal. The aggressive behavior then dissipated, but the officer remained on the scene for several hours.

The next day, the responding officer returned to the scene, retrieved the newborn calf and took it to the CPW Health Lab.

Kara Van Hoose, a spokesperson for CPW told 9 News that the Health Lab requested the calf so it can care for it and study it to better understand the species.

The cow elk was not euthanized, Van Hoose told 9 News.

More from the CDW:

Officers will haze cow elk in the area as necessary to discourage interactions with neighbors. Signs warning of aggressive elk behavior have been placed in the area. Pets should be on-leash at all times to avoid conflicts with cow elk.

Late spring through early summer is considered calving season for Colorado’s elk population. During this time, cow elk can display aggression towards people and pets to protect their calves from perceived threats. Conflicts are common with cow elk and cow moose when they have young nearby, and conflicts increase until their young can stand and move around on their own. Always leave young wildlife alone, especially during calving season. It is not unusual to find calves and fawns alone, as the mother may temporarily leave the calf to find food.

Photos courtesy of Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Wikimedia Commons.

Yellowstone tourists (and grizzly bears) set for baby elk season

It’s elk-calving season in Yellowstone National Park, which means one thing for visitors and another for bears and other top predators.

Yellowstone National Park has cautioned tourists to be extra careful with elk-calving season getting underway.

“Stay alert. Look around corners before exiting buildings or walking around blind spots: cow elk may bed their calves near buildings and under cars,” the park warned in a news release. “Cow elk are much more aggressive towards people during the calving season and may run towards you or kick.”

At the same time, a prominent tour company reminded social-media followers that the park’s grizzly bears might also be turning their attention to baby elk.

“It is near that time of year when elk calves will be born and the grizzlies will turn their sights on the lone female elk,” Yellowstone Insight began via Facebook.

For bears (and wolves), locating elk calves is challenging because the tiny critters are born with little or no scent and often kept hidden.

A lone cow elk, Yellowstone Insight elaborated, might signal to a bear that a calf is nearby:

“Elk give birth in a solitary area, removed from the herd, in hopes of not drawing attention during this vulnerable time. But, it is the smart grizzly bear that knows to look for the solitary elk… they become a serious predator, zig-zagging through the area in hopes of finding the hidden calf.”

The National Park Service notes that in the spring “a grizzly bear’s diet primarily consists of elk, bison, and other ungulates. These ungulates are primarily winter-killed carrion (already dead and decaying animals), and elk calves killed by predation.”

Yellowstone Insight noted that a grizzly bear momma and two cubs spent the past several days feasting on a bison carcass in the northern range.

But the bison carcass is almost fully consumed and the bears will move on, with momma bear perhaps keeping an eye peeled for a lone female elk.

–Elk calf image courtesy of Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone wolves kill elk at public school outside park

The attack on a cow elk at the K-12 Gardiner School occurred at night; the wolves had vanished before dawn.

A wolf pack from Yellowstone National Park devoured a cow elk last week on a school football field outside the park.

The kill site became widely known after Jim Baldwin, superintendent at Gardiner Public Schools, shared an image showing a park ranger standing over the elk carcass. (See graphic image below.)

The Gardiner School is in the town of Gardiner at Yellowstone’s North Entrance. (Part of the school building is inside the park.)

The kill occurred after dark on April 11 and the wolves had vanished back into the park before dawn on April 12.

Elk sightings at the school, and in town, are common. But wolf sightings in the populated district are rare.

Linda Veress, a Yellowstone National Park public affairs officer, told the Billings Gazette: “It’s common for elk, bison and pronghorn to be at the school grounds, less so bears and wolves. It is very rare that we document wolves within the town’s developed footprint over the last 28 years.”

Yellowstone National Park ranger stands over the elk carcass. Photo: Jim Baldwin

The 8-Mile wolf pack, which inhabits part of the park’s northern range, is believed responsible for the elk kill, according to the Billings Gazette.

The school, alongside the Yellowstone River, is a K-12 facility that serves about 200 students.

If wolves were to show at the school during the day, it’s likely that they’d be hazed with rubber bullets and/or cracker shells.

–Generic Yellowstone wolf image courtesy of NPS / Jacob W. Frank

Watch: Tiny Yellowstone wolf pup leaves den, encounters bull elk

“At just a month old, this was likely the first time the young wolf had ever seen an animal of this size,” the tour company explained.

A tour guide in Yellowstone National Park this week captured extraordinary footage showing a tiny wolf pup emerging from a den to find itself face-to-face with a bull elk.

“At just a month old, this was likely the first time the young wolf had ever seen an animal of this size,” Yellowstone Wolf Tracker explained via Instagram. “The two shared a quick glance that seemed to make time stand still.” (See video below.)

The description continued, “This moment, although short-lived, made us onlookers ponder questions regarding what the future might hold for the young wolf.

“Would this encounter potentially shape the wolf into a fearless hunter? Are we possibly seeing the makings of a future pack leader? Only time will tell!”

The footage is grainy because it was captured, by Michael Sypniewski, through a spotting scope from a distance of 3/4 of a mile.

Leo Leckie, spokesman for Yellowstone Wolf Tracker, told FTW Outdoors that the pup belongs to the Junction Butte Pack in the park’s northern range.

The Junction Butte wolves “have become skilled bison hunters over the years,” Leckie added.

Yellowstone wolves also prey on elk, deer, and smaller mammals.

Wolf pups are born in early spring. They typically begin to emerge from dens at 10-14 days, according to the park. They stay at the den site for up to 10 weeks.

Yellowstone Wolf Tracker offers wolf-watching expeditions throughout the year.

Can you spot the moose blending into the Grand Teton landscape?

A hiking guide who was leading a tour recently in Grand Teton National Park snapped a photo of a moose that isn’t hiding but might be difficult for some to spot. Can you spot the moose in Douglas Scott’s image? (Hint, it’s not the distant object …

A hiking guide who was leading a tour recently in Grand Teton National Park snapped a photo of a moose that isn’t hiding but might be difficult for some to spot.

Can you spot the moose in Douglas Scott’s image? (Hint, it’s not the distant object atop the ridge; that’s a radio/cell tower.)

Can you spot the moose?

Scott, who guides in Grand Teton and nearby Yellowstone National Park, told FTW Outdoors that he spotted the moose after pulling over on Highway 89 near the National Elk Refuge.

“I saw the moose immediately, as we had been on the lookout for wildlife in Grand Teton National Park where we had just been watching the sunrise,” said Scott, whose excursions can be booked via The Outdoor Society. “Moose are somewhat common in the area and I had felt slightly frustrated that we had failed to see one up until this point.”

Scott acknowledged that the moose was not in typical moose habitat: near water or nearby meadows.

“The picture was taken at 8 a.m. and while we enjoyed the sighting, the cars driving to and from Jackson from the Tetons didn’t seem to notice the lone moose wandering the hillside, which says more about how well it blended in,” Scott said.

Of the “unique” location of the moose, Scott explained:

“Most moose sightings tend to be when they are along waterways or by willows and other plants. This one was just on the move as we saw it, taking advantage of some exposed plants as it wandered elsewhere.”

The moose in Scott’s image is not sporting antlers, so it does not display the classic moose profile. The animal is circled in the image posted below.

Can you spot the elk in Yellowstone guide’s striking image?

Douglas Scott, who leads hiking tours in Yellowstone National Park, assures that two elk are visible to those with a keen eye.

A hiking guide last week shared an image showing the spectacular scenery as viewed from the Specimen Ridge Trail in Yellowstone National Park.

Douglas Scott of The Outdoor Society informed his X followers that two elk are visible in the photo, which accompanies this post with Scott’s permission.

Can you spot the elk standing near one another in the image? (Answer below.)

Scott said he snapped the photo last Nov. 9 about 1.7 miles into his hike. He was on a clifftop that affords a view of the northern range between Tower-Roosevelt and Slough Creek.

Can you spot the elk? Photo: ©Douglas Scott/The Outdoor Society

The distant road leads to the Lamar Valley. The Lamar River and Slough Creek are beyond the road.

Obvious hint: Both elk are closer than the road and waterways.

Scott recalled this portion of the day hike:

“Earlier in the morning, wolves had been in the area so while giving my hiking tour on the trail above where they had been spotted, we stopped and scanned for wildlife below us, hoping to catch a glimpse of wolves bedded down for the day.

“No wolves were spotted on this adventure, but the movement of the elk caught my attention. The elk were 150 to 200 yards away, evidently unaware of our presence from above as they slowly walked.”

Yellowstone provides summer and fall range for up to 20,000 elk belonging to 6-7 herds. The stately animals are immensely popular among wildlife enthusiasts and represent a prey source for wolves, bears and mountain lions.

Elk are not masters at camouflage, but they’re not always easy to spot from a distance. The two elk visible in Scott’s image are circled below.

Photo: ©Douglas Scott/The Outdoor Society