Takhini elk herd along the Alaska Highway

13 August 2013 - Tuesday

This morning we could hear the elk 'bugling". The screech and chortles were distinctive and obviously nearby. If you want to hear an elk bugle, visit my page from Sept 26, 2015.

Then we spotted the herd on a nearby hill. Too many trees in the way to photograph from the cabin so I jumped in my car and drove out to the Alaska Highway. Spotted the herd on the ridge of the hill, about 500 metres distant.

Elk herd on a hillside
Initially they were looking up the hill to the left while walking downhill to the right

Elk cows and calves on a hillside
The young calf seemed confused ... it checked this young buck to see if it could nurse!

Elk standing and watching
The girls knew I was stopped on the highway and kept their eyes on me

Elk moving on a hill, with a bull
One of the bull elk

The herd was slowly moving down the hill, seemingly to get away from whatever it was they had been watching uphill. Just as the elk were disappearing behind the trees near the bottom, I heard a loud bugle from the right. The herd immediately turned and dashed back UP the hill!

Elk running fast
Dashing back up the hill