Tag Archive for 'Colorado elk'

Elk run away

Bob and I were driving in to the first Farmer’s Market (where Peg sell worms and asparagus, Suzie has daffodils, seeds and greenhouse starts and Holly has eggs and chicken) when we saw this herd of elk right close to the road.  As long as we stay in the car, the elk aren’t very interested in us. 

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But there are all these shrubs in the way.

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Bob backs up so I can get a clearer shot, and suddenly they were paying close attention.  I haven’t been so close to the elk before, since they always run away.  I had been wondering if they actually bump up against each other in their tight herds, or if they always keep a few inches space. 

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I think there are thirteen elk in this photo, squished like sardines.  They’re definitely bumping together.   I get out of the car,

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and the gang of elk is gone, lickety split.  The adjacent farm has an elk fence, so the elk have to run down to the end of the fence

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and jump the irrigation ditch to get away from me.  There’s a horse fence parallel to the ditch, and the elk jump it like steeplechase champs. 

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Adios!  Sorry for making you run away. 

Elk herds

If you approach a bunch of deer, they flick their ears forward, they prance a little, and then they wheel around and run away.  As a rule, they maintain their distance from one another.  

If you approach a gang of elk, they gather together and collectively turn their back to you. 

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They’ll get out of your way if they can, and if they can’t they’ll kick your butt. 

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