Community Chat

[On It]

The mother elk returned this morning with their calves. One of them was wobbly and clearly newborn. A jogger was on the path, so the mother took that baby to the trees to hide it. I could not get a photo. I am posting babies, not the entire herd.

The pregnant elk left as did the horses when the firefighters built their camp close by. The other elk stayed for the duration of the fire. The number of elk has doubled today. Yay!

[On It]

The photos above were taken at sunrise. If you want to see wildlife, that is the best time of day. I drove to Starbucks, so I could not take photos. We passed a herd of horses on the midtown golf course. I had to stop just before the turn into Starbucks for an elk standing in the street.

It seems the wildlife is returning to normal.

[Boomernichols]

@On It  You are fortunate to live where you have a window to the world!    Thanks for your posts and sharing.

[brandiwine]

We have a family ranch on the front range in Colorado.  We have a lovely herd of elk (a hundred or so) and it's so nice to sit quietly and just enjoy.  

[Kachina624]

I'm surprised that deer and elk babies are born so late in the Spring.  An earlier birth would give give them a better chance of growing and maturing before the bitter winter sets in.

[We rescue cats]

How adorable!! We have a coupld of baby deer coming with mom to the birdfeeders. It's nice to watch the progress, first barely able to walk with mo to running ahead and playing . . . I can just imagine how enjoyable your view is!

[On It]

@Kachina624 Most elk babies are born the first two weeks of June. We had a July baby last summer. They weigh between 30-40 pounds and can stand to nurse within thirty minutes after birth.

The rut season begins in mid-September and lasts until late October. The gestation period is about 245 days, so births are scattered. The mother leaves the herd to have her baby in seclusion. She and the baby then return to the herd.

Last week a mother was standing in the middle of the street looking back over her shoulder. I stopped and after a bit, a wobbly new baby struggled out of a ravine and crossed the road in front of us. The mother blocked traffic until it was beside her. They headed onto the midtown golf course to join the rest of the herd.

[luvzchiz]

@On It   How beautiful!  Thanks for sharing. 

[goldensrbest]

Sure hope all those animals will be safe.

[On It]

@goldensrbest The animals in these photos are safe. The fire would have to cross the valley where the village winds its way down a major highway. The animals pictured on the other thread about the new fire are in the wider part of the canyon.

The bears, elk, and a horse herd are in the narrow area along with deer and smaller critters. I hope their instincts will help them escape any harm.