"A Sand County Almanac"

"THERE ARE SOME WHO CAN LIVE WITHOUT WILD THINGS AND SOME WHO CANNOT."
"FOR US IN THE MINORITY THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE GEESE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN TELEVISION.".....Aldo Leopold




"LOOK DEEP INTO NATURE, AND THEN YOU WILL UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING BETTER".....Albert Einstein


“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves”.....John Muir


Friday, November 1, 2019

Elk Roam Free In The Wilds of Elk County, Pennsylvania


A visit to Benezette, PA to view and photograph the well known free ranging elk herd has become an annual tradition.  We have gone earlier in the season in past years and the usual chasing and sparring that happens during the rut was past. We did enjoy the splendid fall colors...

   
This is the view from the Woodring Farm...


Many larger bulls were still keeping tabs on their cows, frequently checking to see if any were ready to breed...




When the cow wanted to escape the attention of the bulls she just bedded down...


The bull would usually rest near by...


The elk are easy to find, normally a drive up Winslow Hill will reveal several...




By the third week in October the crowds have diminished greatly.  This was the first time that we were able to get a campsite with an electrical hookup because of the popularity of the Benezette Store Campground.  One can imagine our surprise when almost no other campers were present...


The early morning views from the campground were beautiful...



We always enjoy exploring the many unpaved roads...


This ruffed grouse was eating wild grapes from a vine in the top of a tree...


On a cool, late October morning one might see the breath from an elk...


There are a number of bull elk with non-typical antlers if one is lucky enough to spot them...




The terrain varies widely, from reclaimed strip mines to dense hardwood forests...




There is evidence of old farms in the form of orchards and field stone house foundations...






While driving on a narrow road we came upon this young bull standing in the road...


He refused to move as we drove past.  It became obvious that he was badly injured...



After seeing the condition of this elk, we drove directly to the Visitors Center to report the situation to the authorities.  This is an example of how a hunters bullet can often be the most humane end for wildlife.

The following images are from one of the overlooks on Winslow Hill Road...




Thanks for visiting, be well, and come back soon...






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