Baby Season

While so many people are suffering through the high heat across the country, our animals are tending to their babies, looking for water and food. We love this season and watching any animals we can see to observe their behavior.

The baby elk are out, hosting their new spots and wobbly legs. The calves are generally born around early June. We might not see them until July when mom takes them out in the world to show them how to find food and water on their own.

They forage on grass, shrubs, and twigs, and chirp for their mothers. Moms dote on the little one’s, but when it’s feeding time, the mom’s give them little attention to teach the newborns to eat off the land.

The one that got away

Unfortunately, despite our many trips to the Mogollon Rim looking for animals, we just haven’t seen that many.  I don’t know where they are, but they just aren’t here.  It’s rut season here on the mountain, so the bull elk are collecting their harems.  We did just see a small herd of elk the other day.

baby teethPSi.JPG

We saw a few little babies born this year with fading spots, and few cow elk, along with a young single spike bull.

velvetbullPSi.JPG

velvetprofPSi.JPG

But the one I really wanted to get a photo of was the one on the way out and I only got a fleeting view of this big bull.

bigbullPSi.JPG

bullbutti.JPG

Darn.  He was just the one that got away.  It astounds me how these big boys can walk (not to mention run) through our tangled forests with those big racks on their heads.

Maybe next time.