Bull Elk in Velvet, Point Reyes National Seashore

May 7, 2013

hPoto of bull tule elk in velvet — The Life Cycle Continues

I was out at Point Reyes recently. The male elk are all sporting new antlers covered in velvet. They’re also still shedding their lighter-colored winter coats. This bull was in the Tule Elk Preserve. He was in a group of about 20 bulls.

I didn’t get a clear look at all of them, but three of them, and possibly a fourth, looked like they were suffering from diarrhea. That made me wonder if they had early-stage Johne’s Disease, which leads to death. For an earlier discussion of Johne’s Disease at Point Reyes, click here.

0 Responses

TimB says:

May 8, 2013 at 12:51 pm

the scouring (diarrhea) is typical of this time of year when the elk consume high quantities of seedy green grasses, the cattle show this effect also

Reply
1. Jim Coda says:
  
  May 9, 2013 at 8:28 am
  
  Thanks Tim. It’s good to know it wasn’t early stage Johne’s Disease.
  
  Reply

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