Bull Elk In Big Thompson River

Title

Bull Elk In Big Thompson River

Artist

Catherine Sherman

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

"Bull Elk in Big Thompson River, Estes Park, Colorado" by Catherine Sherman.

A bull elk stands in the Big Thompson River in Estes Park, Colorado, in early Autumn, which is mating season, known as the Rut. He seems to be wondering why I'm violating his privacy.

Actually, behind me (I was standing on a bridge) was a herd of female elk and the dominant male elk in the river that this bull elk found more interesting than me. This lone bull elk was hanging around, hoping to attract some of the females. Sometimes the dominant male would run him off, but the younger male would always return.

Estes Park adjoins Rocky Mountain National Park.

The elk or wapiti (Cervus canadensis) is one of the largest species within the deer family, Cervidae, in the world, and one of the largest terrestrial mammals in North America and Northeast Asia. This animal should not be confused with the still larger moose (Alces alces) to which the name "elk" applies in British English and in reference to populations in Eurasia.

Elk range in forest and forest-edge habitat, feeding on grasses, plants, leaves, and bark. Male elk have large antlers which are shed each year. Males also engage in ritualized mating behaviors during the rut, including posturing, antler wrestling (sparring), and bugling, a loud series of vocalizations that establishes dominance over other males and attracts females.

Featured in "Our 4-Legged Friends" group (01/03/2020); "Wildlife - One a Day" group (06/03/2020; "All COLORADO" group (06/05/2020); "Go Take a Hike Photography" group (12/28/2021)

Uploaded

December 15th, 2019

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Viewed 442 Times  -  Last Visitor from Beverly Hills, CA on 04/20/2024 at 11:38 PM

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