Category: Tule Elk

Tule Elk

Bull Tule Elk After a Fight

Photo of a bull tule elk after a fight.
Injured Bull Tule Elk, Point Reyes National Seashore

I wrote this post at the same time as the previous one.  The point of this one was going to be to show how the bull in that post looked after an apparent fight.  In looking over the draft of this post I now realize this isn’t the same bull.  This bull’s antlers are “palmated,” especially the right one.  Furthermore, I don’t see any baling twine.  I guess I jumped to the conclusion that it was the same bull because this big bull was returning to the same 8 cows that I saw the previous bull with in the same spot an hour before.   In view of the fact that this is the one returning to the harem, it appears he is the dominant bull in this area.

He was limping very noticeably which seemed to be due to an injured left shoulder.  The area behind his lower left shoulder seems devoid of any hair.   His left flank may also show evidence of a fight.  He was panting heavily for the 10 to 15 minutes I observed him and his mouth was open almost all that time.  I assume this bull was in a fight with the bull in the previous post.  Even though he was showing signs of stress from what I presume was a fight, he still checked out a couple of cows that must have been close to being ready to mate.  Being the dominant bull is a lot of work and leaves the big bulls in a weaker state when winter arrives.  Point Reyes is a pretty safe place though for a weakened bull elk.  It’s a lot tougher in Yellowstone with the low temperatures, the snow and the wolves.

Tule Elk

Bull Tule Elk with Baling Twine Caught in Antlers

Photo of a bull tule elk with baling twine caught in his antlers.
Tule Elk Bull, Limantour Herd; Point Reyes National Seashore

This 7-point bull is the largest I’ve seen so far this fall in that portion of the Limantour herd that uses the D Ranch near Drake’s Beach.   About an hour after this photo was taken I saw him again and he was limping.  I think he had been a in a fight.  What I want to point out in this photo, however, is that he has some baling twine caught in his antlers.  Here is a closer view of the baling twine.

Close-up photo of a bull tule elk with baling twine caught in his antlers.
Cropped photo showing baling twine caught in antlers; Point Reyes National Seashore

Baling twine and baling wire, which are used to bale hay, cause many unnecessary injuries and deaths each year to wildlife.  Animals manage to get their legs, talons and other body parts tangled in it.  To read an article about its dangers click here.  The next time this bull scrapes ground cover some of it will get caught in the twine and some of it may cover the animals face, including its eyes.  Depending on its breaking strength, it may also tie the bull to a fence or a piece of vegetation that the bull can’t break or it may hold two bulls together when they try to break from a fight.  Tensile strength is in the hundreds of pounds.  Other species, such as ospreys, are attracted to it for nest-building material.  There are reported cases of ospreys being killed when flying with a long piece of it dangling from their talons.  The trailing piece gets caught in a tree limb as a bird flies over it and the bird dies either immediately or over a long time if it can’t free itself of the twine.  If it makes it into the nest it can cause death there as well.  To see what can happen at a nest site click here.  It reminds me of monofilament fishing line which thoughtless fishermen discard.  Monofilament is even used for some baling products.  If you see discarded baling twine please collect it and dispose of it properly.  Included in that is cutting it into small pieces so it doesn’t become dangerous again on the surface of a landfill.

Baling twine is now being manufactured that decomposes over time.  While this is a step in the right direction, it doesn’t break down for over a year.

Tule Elk

Yearling Elk Releases Some Steam

Photo of a young tule elk bull.
Yearling Tule Elk, Point Reyes National Seashore

It’s not only the calves that need to run to release some pent up energy. This yearling needs to do it as well.  He has that crazy look in his eyes.  I can remember having that same need to run fast for no reason other than to just do it.  That was a long time ago.

Tule Elk

A Lot of Bull

Photo of a bull tule elk among spring flowers.
7-Point Bull Tule Elk; Point Reyes National Seashore

This is the biggest bull I’ve seen on the south end of the Tomales Peninsula.  He’s probably the sire of all the calves in that area.  I’ve spent some time watching him and the other smaller bulls that  comprise this bachelor band.  One of the things I’ve noticed is how he constantly asserts his dominance in little ways.  His mantra:  “Out of my way.”  Come fall, all the others know that to mate they have to beat the one who’s always pushing them around.  Most won’t try.  I think this is common to all herding wildlife.  What I liked about this photo opportunity was the wildflowers (wild radish?) and the late afternoon light.

Tule Elk

A Tule Elk Calf Stands in Tall Grass

Photo of tule elk calf standing in tall grass.
Tule Elk Calf, Point Reyes National Seashore

This tule elk calf is big enough to run with the adults so it no longer needs to hide for periods of time.  It was the only calf with a group of 25 adults and yearlings.  Most of the cows with calves that I’ve been seeing are staying farther away from the road than the other elk.