Bull Elk Grooms Himself

by Catherine Sherman

Title

Bull Elk Grooms Himself

Artist

Catherine Sherman

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

"Bull Elk Grooms Himself" by Catherine Sherman.

This bull elk groomed himself after rubbing his antlers against a tree near a condominium parking lot in Estes Park, Colorado, in early November. The rutting season was over, and this guy missed out on romance, but he's keeping himself in shape and looking good. Maybe next year he'll find success. In the meantime, he's hanging out with his other male friends.

I was visiting Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado (RMNP), hoping to see elk, when friends texted me that seven bull elk were grazing on the lawn outside of the condominiums where we were staying in Estes Park. I didn't see elk in the park, but we saw several herds of elk and several small groups making themselves at home inside of the town.

Estes Park is just outside of RMNP.

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 (11/08/2018); "All COLORADO" group (09/24/2019); "USA Photographers Only" group (02/16/2020); "Go Take a Hike Photography" group (09/22/2021)

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November 4th, 2018

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