This site is dedicated to wildlife and landscape photography.
This site is dedicated to wildlife and landscape photography.
The elk calves are getting noticeably bigger and the spots on the older ones are becoming somewhat muted. If you like to see spotted elk calves and deer fawns, you should get out to Point Reyes soon.
I’m biased in favor of predators. That’s why when I’m at Point Reyes I’m always looking for bobcats and coyotes. If I’m lucky, maybe I’ll spot a badger. If I’m super lucky, maybe some day I”ll spot a mountain lion. (I keep looking, but they’re not likely to be in the open areas I frequent.)
Anyway, on the last few drives to Point Reyes I’ve thought to myself that it’s that time of year that I ought to look for elk calves and deer fawns. By the time I get there though, I have forgotten about them because of my obsession with predators. Yesterday, I decided I’d better remember to look for them before it’s too late to see them when they are still small. Luckily, there were some along Drakes Beach Road. I also saw two cow elk away from the herd which made me think they may have very young calves hidden nearby. I didn’t see any fawns. Maybe next time.
Elk calving has been going on for a while at Point Reyes. This photo was taken on April 28. Mothers keep their calves hidden for the first two weeks or so because it is the best protection from predators. By two weeks of age they can run with the adults. Given that, I assume these calves were born no later than April 14. I have also been seeing fawns lately. As you can see, wildflowers are also well underway.
