Two hundred years ago, Elk roamed freely over the entire Northwest. This writer’s father earned pennies collecting discarded antlers all around the Botanical Gardens present day location. Lewis & Clark Expedition (1805) was one of several overland expeditions
(MacKenzie, 1793 the first) that proved one could travel by foot and paddle to the Pacific Ocean from eastern North America. They were the 1st Americans to do so, commissioned by President Jefferson, with many magnificent articles and books attesting. Our favorite is Steven Ambrose’s Undaunted Courage that ends with, “The Clatsops and Chinook’s resources they drew on were renewable, whereas the Americans had shot out all the elk in the vicinity in just three months … the natives stayed living prosperous lives on the riches …” and after one winter, Lewis & Clark retreated.
https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/species/cervus-canadensis
https://crosscut.com/environment/2023/08/washington-considers-consolidating-elk-management
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=10160386007799691
https://www.seattletimes.com/life/outdoors/you-can-watch-hundreds-of-elk-graze-at-this-wa-wildlife-area-every-winter/
Elk are typically seen:
alone, by themselves
in pairs
in herds
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