Wildlife Watching in America's National Parks: A Seasonal Guide

8. October—Elk of Buffalo River

130 | 8 { October Elk of Buffalo River In terms of photographic appeal there may be no animal in North America more sought after and more impressive than the North American elk in autumn. The adult males, known as bulls, carry their massive antlers proudly and regally. They use the enormous antlers to thrash small trees and to send clods of earth flying, all in an effort to demonstrate their fitness. Then they tilt the antlers back, extend their Few animals are as majestic as the bull elk in the fall. (Photo by Daniel S. Licht) 131| October–Elk of Buffalo River head forward, and emit a loud buglelike call that carries for miles, as their breath turns to vapor in the crisp autumn air. And when two evenly matched bulls meet, an epic battle may ensue. For the photographer and wildlife observer it gets no better than elk in the fall. When most people think of elk they think of the rocky Mountains, but surprisingly, there are many national parks outside of the rocky Mountains where elk can be viewed. One of the better places to see these majestic animals in their fall glory is at Buffalo National river in the Ozarks of north-central Arkansas. What’s Remarkable about Elk? Bull elk can weigh over 700 pounds, making them the second largest member of the deer family in North America (moose are the largest). However, what make elk stand out are their remarkable antlers. The antlers start growing in spring (as soon as last year’s antlers are shed) and are fully developed by late summer–early fall. In large bulls the antlers can grow over an inch a day. Some claim that antlers grow faster than any other living tissue with the exception of some mushrooms. When fully developed the antlers on a large bull can weigh more than 40 pounds with the main beams exceeding 60 inches in length. To reach such an impressive size in such a short time a prime age bull needs lots of nutrient-rich food high in calcium and phosphate. Generally speaking, the size of the antlers is directly related to the health of the bull. unfortunately, in certain parts of the world some people believe elk antlers, like rhinoceros horns, bear gall bladders, and other animal parts, have special medicinal powers and therefore are smuggled and traded through the black market. elk antlers are most valuable in the velvet stage when they are rapidly growing (there is some scientific evidence that antlers in this stage may indeed provide some physiological benefits to people in the form of growth stimulators and bone development). Hardened and shed antlers are often collected for decorative or craft purposes. However, collecting antlers is strictly forbidden in national parks in part because the shed antlers are part of the natural nutrient cycle. For example , many small rodents gnaw on the calcium-rich antlers. 132 | Fall Elk Behavior For much of the year the adult bulls hang out in small groups known as “bachelor” groups while the cows, calves, and juveniles travel together in larger “cow herds.” Come September the adult bulls join the cow herds in an attempt to gather a “harem” of cows for breeding. This breeding period is known as the “rut” (a term that apparently originated from early French or latin words meaning “to roar”). The bulls advertize their presence and fitness by thrashing their antlers against vegetation, urinating frequently, and posturing. Perhaps the most striking breeding behavior is the bull elk’s “bugle,” a colloquial term for the high-pitched whistle the bulls produce. The bugle is often followed by a series of boisterous bellowing grunts. At the peak of the rut the bugling bulls can be heard day and night, although early morning is the peak period. The bugling, posturing , and thrashing of vegetation behavior not only proclaims the bull’s Hunting and national parks It may surprise some, but many units the National Park Service manages allow hunting. Many of these units are designated as national lakeshores, seashores, preserves, and recreation areas. In contrast, units that have “park” in their name, such as Yellowstone National Park, typically do not allow hunting. Hunting can be an effective management tool to control populations of deer, elk, and other wildlife when natural predators are absent. However, hunting can also make the animals more fearful of humans and harder to see. Plus, many...