Elk elk everywhere

When we first arrived here at our new house, I saw something unusual on a distant hillside. When I trained binoculars on the location, I was thrilled to see a herd of elk (too distant to photograph).

Later, we saw the herd in a pasture closer to us.

Later still, the herd moved very close by -- munching on a bale of hay in a neighbor's pasture. I can't say for certain the hay was put out there specifically to attract the elk, but I will say there was no other livestock (horses or cows) in that particular pasture.

It's amazing how such a large creature can leap fences with ease.

I stood out in the bitter cold photographing the animals for at least 20 minutes. It was hard to pull myself away.

Still later, we looked across yet another hillside and saw the herd bedded down in the snow. They spent hours up there, hardly moving.

Still later, I saw some animals crossing a snowy field.

 

 

I wonder if the day will ever come when I'll look out our window and yawn at the herd of elk in our pasture?

Probably not.