A week for rare sightings… I saw this yesterday a bit off in the distance though and in a location where I rarely see them
not my pic… phone is still a POS
[img]https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTxWpjbaWbFCEE4zSHWwzcw_xuBzFGeDBwN_muyqJ271xCXsrNjjw[/img]
Tule Elk…. these are the smallest of the North American Elk, generally 400-700 pounds, much smaller than the Roosevelt and Rocky Mountain species. The size difference is attributed to the terrain they inhabit which is hot and lacking in normal nutrients. They are only found in California, generally in the central valley and western mountains.
They were nearly hunted into extinction in the 1800's… and one of the first breeds put into protection when a mated pair were found in 1870. Most of the herds in existence are descendents of that pair. Their numbers have doubled over the last 20 years and now stand around 4000.
Mount up Ladies!
