Have you seen one yet? Calves hit the ground from mid-May to early June all across elk country.
In some places where elk live close to humans, that can lead to conflict and possible injury. As always, elk are wild animals even if they appear docile so it is imperative to keep your distance.
“Over the last couple of years, we’ve had them calving in some of our urban green spaces,” Jay Honeyman, human-wildlife conflict specialist with the Alberta Environment and Parks, told Rocky Mountain Outlook. “That’s resulted in obvious public safety issues, with mom being very aggressive.”
Calves are born spotted and scentless as camouflage from predators. They spend their first few weeks hiding motionless while their mothers feed. Find more elk facts here.
As always RMEF reminds you that if you come across newborn wildlife, leave them alone.
Photo source: Dan Rafla Parks Canada