The Elk are back in Estes Park, CO

[Bob]

Every year, in the spring and late fall the ELK call Estes Park Colorado home.

September and October mark the rut and Elk get very frisky (and dangerous) during that time.


http://www.uncovercolorado.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Estes-Park-Colorado-Elk-Herd.jpg

Estes Park is at the base of Rocky Mountain National Park, which sports a motor trail through the high Rockies (open during the summer and closes when weather prevents passage).

People tend to think because the animals are in town, that they are "tame" - they are not though..


http://www.sonnenhofbedandbreakfast.com/gallery/Fgallery3-11.jpg


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOaJ-wbMoRM

I've had numerous Elk in my front and back yard in southern Colorado, outside of Colorado Springs. One large male camped out under my back porch last year for a week (nice sunny warm spot at night apparently).. they are quite large, like horses with horns.. Not something one wants to get too close to... I do appreciate their "energy" :)



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiPNMaVw56M

[Bob]

Couple close-up images

A youngin'

https://c1.staticflickr.com/7/6225/6221489792_3f272dd030_b.jpg

Prior to rubbing off the velvet

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/8f/20/45/8f204588c7c10e0877f5dce41fc4e942.jpg

When they call, (a "bugle")

http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site47/2015/0915/20150915__17rhhomew~1_500.jpg

Sounds of bugling
http://www.elk-hunting-tips.net/media-files/2herdbulls-bugle-response.mp3

Direct audio link for mp3 file
http://www.elk-hunting-tips.net/media-files/2herdbulls-bugle-response.mp3

[Bob]

Of course Colorado is home to other critters

Estes Park Bobcat

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--yumpZMKUw4/VCxvDuyxk7I/AAAAAAAASaM/yThZeOgpxNw/s1600/EPBobcat1.jpg

and if you see these guys in Estes, definitely stay away from them (moose)


http://blogs.denverpost.com/travel/files/2012/09/Picture-426.jpg
https://a0.muscache.com/im/pictures/48032932/45b55ba8_original.jpg?aki_policy=large

Moose and car, relative size comparison (they when fully grown are big)

http://d2gafrqace0qik.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/Moose-licking-salt_YouTube.jpg

[Foxie Loxie]

Wow! What amazing footage, Bob! This was all new to me so it was amazing to watch! :clapping: Thanks!

[Kano]

Great images, Bob! I live just south of Denver and Estes Park is one of my favorite places to go. The mighty Rocky Mountain creatures are beautiful. Thanks for a great start to the morning!

[TargeT]

so much tasty food... I'd need a bigger freezer if I lived there.

[Bob]

so much tasty food... I'd need a bigger freezer if I lived there.

They are just as prolific at my place too, although they stay pretty much inside the town of Estes Park. It's quite an amazing scene. I've seen similar types of rendezvous up in Banff Saskatchewan of Elk and Rocky mountain sheep. The town of Jasper can get quite congested with critters.

These critters also are present, haven't seen them in town, but along side the road like at 1am. The one I saw was brilliant white in the moonlight.


http://wpmedia.calgaryherald.com/2015/07/copy-wolves-on-carcass-dan.jpg?quality=55&strip=all

There was a prize mascot, Samson in Estes Park who was shot in the town and that really got folks upset and the person hit with quite a fine..

http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/estesparknews.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/ec/7ec68818-67ad-11e5-98ac-2b56ed46ee18/560c3ec3a423b.image.jpg


Locals spoke fondly of Samson, telling how this grand bull elk was so very trusting of people. He was considered by many to be the village mascot. ... On November 11, 1995, Samson was killed by a poacher.

Samson was quite curious, frequently interacting with people - http://estes.on-line.com/samson/canicomein.jpg

Getting game tags sometimes has a lottery for the bigger game.

[Bob]

The area - reference map for perspective..


http://www.rmnp.com/Maps/EstesPark-CentralColorado.gif

Kids will be kids.. (first image, A mountain goat kid on Mount Evans near Idaho Springs, CO) second image a kid looking off in the distance at sheep lake in the Rocky Mt. Park area, many Parks Curve Overlook)


https://cdn-co.milespartnership.com/sites/default/master/files/babygoat.jpg
https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/08/e7/4f/94/many-parks-curve-overlook.jpg


http://mustseeplaces.eu/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ram-in-rocky-montain-national-park.jpg

.. A Ram in Rocky Mountain National Park

[wnlight]

I still remember those eyes gazing back at me, not twenty feet away. The large, male wolf was wild and free in Yellowstone, in the snow, in the Winter. We stared at each other with no fear. I looked for my camera and when I looked back he was gone.

[Justplain]

Thanks, Bob. What magnificent creatures! We have to ensure they have enough habitat to prosper. Makes me love mother Earth that much more because such beautiful animals live here.