Massive Herd of Elk in Montana
This video shows a huge heard crossing the road near Yellowstone. It’s located at Bozeman, MT. We have never seen such a big herd before. Poor little guy at the end. Luckily he finally caught up. What did you think of the elk crossing?
Elk migration in Yellowstone National Park is a fascinating natural phenomenon. Here are some interesting facts about it:
- Seasonal Movement: Elk in Yellowstone undertake one of the longest remaining land mammal migrations in the contiguous United States. They migrate between their winter range in the northern parts of the park and their summer range in the higher elevations of the park.
- Population Size: The northern Yellowstone elk herd is one of the largest herds in North America, with an estimated population of around 10,000 individuals.
- Altitudinal Migration: Elk undertake altitudinal migration, moving from lower elevation winter ranges to higher elevation summer ranges. During winter, they descend to lower valleys where they find milder temperatures and access to food.
- Breeding Season: Elk migration in Yellowstone is influenced by the breeding season, known as the rut, which typically occurs in the fall. During this time, the bulls compete for mating rights by bugling, displaying their antlers, and engaging in physical confrontations.
- Route Selection: The migration routes of elk in Yellowstone are not fixed and can vary from year to year. The selection of routes depends on factors such as snow depth, forage availability, and predator avoidance.
- Natural Barriers: Elk migration routes are sometimes impeded by natural barriers like deep snow or large rivers. These obstacles can influence the timing and success of migration, as elk need to find suitable crossing points.
- Predator-Prey Interaction: The migration of elk in Yellowstone also influences predator behavior. Wolves, Yellowstone’s apex predators, are known to follow the elk herds during migration, targeting weak or injured individuals.
- Ecological Impact: Elk migration plays a vital role in shaping the landscape and maintaining ecological balance in Yellowstone. Their grazing patterns can affect plant growth, and their movements help disperse seeds and nutrients.
- Human-Wildlife Interactions: Elk migration attracts a significant number of visitors to Yellowstone, providing them with opportunities to observe and appreciate this natural spectacle. Park authorities manage traffic and access points to minimize disturbances to the migrating elk.
- Research and Conservation: Scientists study elk migration in Yellowstone to understand the ecological processes and inform conservation efforts. Research helps in evaluating the impacts of climate change, habitat alteration, and human activities on elk populations and their migration patterns.
These fascinating elk migrations in Yellowstone National Park showcase the intricate relationship between wildlife, landscape, and the dynamic processes of nature.
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November 13, 2014 @ 3:44 pm
I lived in a small community in Bayfield, CO for 10 yrs, loved the area, had 40 acres and elk would pass thru my property in the fall (we were at 6,900′) one day a herd came thru with bulls and cows, I started to count and had to stop at 200, they were still coming!! CO does have underpasses for the elk, deer and whatever else needs to cross over, and by these underpasses there’s a 10′-12′ fence along the highway to keep them from crossing.
November 12, 2014 @ 10:19 pm
That was a really cool video. To both parties of the dissagreement that followed, I would say, “The sum total of matter and energy in the universe is constant.”
November 12, 2014 @ 12:27 pm
Elk are called male(bull) female (cow) here in the us of a ! Maine probably think they are still part on England, which use the term Stag. I cought the term antelope in the post. Did you know that we don’t have them here in the states,But rather pronghorns? You will have to go to Africa to find antelope. And yes many people think Antelope drop their horns , shead , once a year . Wrong they shead an outer sheets for growth ,but not the entire horn.Here are some other misnomers why do we call some states Midwestern states,when they are in central eastern America ? No where near the west. Then you go to Washington and Oregon and they call anything along the coast western . As you climb the first little hills now you are in eastern Was.Org.Thats about 3/4 of both states. Just saying ken
November 11, 2014 @ 8:38 am
“He” was a she. A cow. And yes I have watched that in the wild, many miles from a protected park or reserve. My heard was probably two thirds that size. No, I’m not going to tell you who it was ????
November 6, 2014 @ 9:58 pm
What I liked best about this amazing video is that the last few of the herd seemed to be holding up for the little feller to catch up with the rest of them. Even an Elk needs a support group. Let’s remember that when we humans meet up with someone who needs a little extra encouragement, a hug, a touch, patience, or a helping hand to get through the day, OK?
October 29, 2014 @ 12:50 am
I saw a huge herd of elk in New Mexico, just outside Philmont Scout Ranch
October 15, 2014 @ 1:25 pm
We live here in Southwestern Montana. We do have elk, but I have not seen that happen with elk, but we have seen
it happen with moose. The Cow moose was on one side of the fence and the two moose calves were on the other side and were afraid to jump, so the cow reared up and jumped over. It was funny!
October 14, 2014 @ 7:16 pm
In Maine where I came from we dont have Elk but the male deer are called a stag and female are calle a doe they have moose up there
October 12, 2014 @ 1:29 pm
If we would talk without demeaning the other party we would make some needed progress. Many of us agree with the early main points of Mark and Darren. But it appears likely that most people think Farley is mostly right. I for one am on the side of Mark and Darren and believe that humanity is mainly responsible for the deterioration of our environment and that all the non-human life must be much better understood by most of us in order for humanity to survive here on Planet Earth.
October 12, 2014 @ 3:21 pm
That is the bottom line, after all.
October 11, 2014 @ 2:09 pm
This was fantastic—and very touching–thank you