It isn’t every day that I drive on Highway 101 and spy the elk sign flashing. So I perked up yesterday and was pleased to see them lounging on a hillside. It took a little back-roading and tromping through fields, but I got almost close enough to take cropable shots with my zoom. And for me there was a real bonus: a bull in the middle of the harem, the first I’ve seen.
Some members of the herd wear radio collars that trigger lights on signs along the highway. From time to time the herd will literally cross the highway, a hazard for elk and human alike. It looks like this group is happy for now to hang out where they are.
I don’t blame you for being excited over these photos. It’s not often that we come across opportunities of photographing animals like these in the wild.
I was unaware of “elks signs flashing.” What a great safety system, which certainly could be used for areas where there are an abundance of deer. Can’t count how many friends and family members have hit deer over the years. Your photos are wonderful; the bull looks pretty happy. . .or perhaps just exhausted?! Time to rest from all his domestic activities?
Kudos to you. Your tromping about the off-roads really paid off. This is a wonderful sight. Although there are elk where our daughter lives in Colorado, I’ve never seen them there in the wild.
Hope you’re doing well. I’m back posting sporadically! Missed all my blogging friends!
What a fabulous sighting – we used to see them in Northern California quite often. I think the warnings are a great idea – the elk can do serious damage to a car – and the other way round too. They look quite peaceful in these photos.
This is very cool. I like that bull’s odds. I have had fantasies like that . . .
Wonderful animals, wonderful sight!