Somehow I never posted this image but yet it is my favorite from this past fall’s elk rut. Taken in Rocky Mountain National Park at the end of September. This massive bull elk had a harem of eight cows but was feeling the pressure from two other bulls nearby. He kept circling the ladies and sounded constant warnings to the interlopers that he was prepared to defend their honor.
Bull Elk keeps a close eye on things
Taken at the end of September at the height of the rut, this big guy was running himself frantic keeping his harem together. At one point he suddenly stopped and cast a menacing look at my son and I.
After sticking his nose up in the air as if trying to smell us, he seemed to determine we weren’t a threat and went back to chasing the girls. It was a bit of a nervous moment for us although we were a good distance away and up a steep slope. I love the look on his face and the frantic look in his eyes in this image.
The early morning sun made for some nice light too. Taken in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Elk calf demonstrates its opinion of Mondays (or perhaps photographers)
Few people are happy to see Monday come along and some wildlife might even agree. This young elk stuck its tongue out at me and I am choosing to use it to demonstrate thoughts of the first work day of the week. However, it could be that the little one was just being a bit ornery and didn’t care for having its picture taken. 😉 Have a great week!
Elk calf really wants to play with a duck
This was a lot of fun to watch. This calf was wading in a pond when a duck arrived to go for a swim. The little guy (or gal) was quite fascinated by the feathered creature and waded in further to try to get a sniff. The duck however didn’t care too much for the large, furry mammal and swam off leaving the calf without a friend.
Taken in Horseshoe Park in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. ?
Sounds of September: Elk bull bugles to ward off competitors
If you had to pick a single sound for the month of September in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, it most likely would be the bugle of Elk bulls. By the end of the month the rut is in full swing and the bulls are gathering their harems and protecting them at all costs.
The distinctive bugle of a bull can communicate a number of different messages including letting his harem know he is around, letting the cows know they are straying too far and making him unhappy or warning other bulls to keep their distance.
In the case of this series of pictures, this bull was making sure that two other bulls nearby knew he was standing guard over the ladies. He would race from one side of the harem to the other, sounding his warning as he went.
Serious bull!
The Elk rut is in full swing and the bulls are working feverishly to gather their harem – and keep them together. This big guy had about 12 cows he had accumulated. However, a younger bull and another bull of similar size / age were encroaching and he was not a happy camper about it at all. Here he moves quickly to head off one of the interlopers. Taken this morning in the Moraine Park area of Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Elk bulls put on pre-rut show
These two bulls appeared to be getting an early start on the rut as they sized each other up. The smaller one on the left would come up, raise its head and crowd the other. The big guy was of course not intimidated one bit and stood its ground. After a few times of this, the younger one decided he might be wiser picking on someone his own size.
Taken in Rocky Mountain National Park on August 7.
Elk family turns their eyes to the photographer
This image, taken last week, is one of my favorites of my recent trip. I stopped to watch the bull with a small harem and a couple of calves. Individually they would stop grazing and look at me occasionally but pretty much ignored my presence.
I watched as these three stayed near each other and I began thinking, “Please look! Please look!” Lo and behold, all three lifted their heads and looked in my direction for just a brief instance. Bingo! A very nice Elk family portrait.
It is times like these when as a photographer you can’t help but be excited about one of your own images.
Taken in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
Elk takes a break at 12,000 feet
With the heat of summer here, many of the elk in Rocky Mountain National Park? have moved to higher – and cooler – ground. For a photographer, this is a great opportunity to get some pictures of them without having trees and other foliage in the way.
Here a bull rests in the early morning sun among grass and wildflowers while behind him, remnants of winter (snow) still linger of the slopes of a mountain.
“Well, hello there!”
A quick trip up to Rocky Mountain National Park this morning provided its usual wide assortment of photo opportunities. The big guys were scattered around, hanging out in bachelor groups.