Eyeing Our Elk…

Photographer Lynn Harrington snapped these photos of our local wildlife recently. Harrington writes:

The elk in Northern Humboldt are doing fine. Both main bulls with the largest herds from last year are still main bulls this year. One bull is massive. They’ve been relatively shy and clinging to the tree lines more often the past few days.

To see more of Harrington’s work, click here.

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19 Comments
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Lyn Stevens
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Lyn Stevens
5 years ago

Wonderful photos.

Gypsy Rose
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Gypsy Rose
5 years ago

Lynn, those are some beautiful pictures. I remember camping with my grandson on the ocean between Redway and Shelter Cove where not to many people knew about. He was 8 years old. He shook me awake saying nana, nana, nana we have company. I opened my eyes and a whole herd of Elk were no more than 10 – 15 feet from where we were laying. I didn’t know enough about them to assume whether they were migrating or what. I just wanted to lay there in awe of this beautiful sight . I told my grandson to be real quiet and just enjoy what was going on because very few people are blessed with this picture. Something that he will hold in his heart and tell his children and grand children for the rest of his life. There were so many I couldn’t count them. My God so beautiful. He’s 36 and still remembers.

Humboldt Lady
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Humboldt Lady
5 years ago
Reply to  Gypsy Rose

Wonderful memory
.

Lynn H
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Lynn H
5 years ago
Reply to  Gypsy Rose

Thank you Gypsy. What a great memory! The elk out in the lost coast have made a lot of people pretty happy. I often hear stories of them. I wanted to photograph those herds this year but spent most of the summer out of state. I don’t have 4WD and wasn’t able to get out there before the rains 🙁 I’m hoping to see them next year. They are beautiful animals.

Our elk in Mendocino and Humboldt don’t really migrate except for occasional small groups dispersing to a new territory. Ours in general have small territories compared to the elk in the Rocky mountains. Someone I know who used to work at the visitor center at Needle Rock told me the original herd has expanded to at least 6 main herds dispersed along that section of coast.

The lost coast herds are descendants of these northern Humboldt Roosevelt elk herds. They were reintroduced to our coast from the northern stock.

I heard a rumor that a new herd has started in Laytonville and is hanging out closer to the town center than the old Laytonville herd. Elk seem to be doing well in our whole general area.

HotCoffee
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HotCoffee
5 years ago

Thank you for sharing!

Phyllis
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Phyllis
5 years ago

Thanks Kym, a break from the news fake or not is refreshing. We live in a beautiful area this article reminds me that its just a day trip away to mother natures wonders

chasi
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chasi
5 years ago

Wonderful photographs.

THC
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THC
5 years ago

Careful around those elk, I was out at Needle Rock last week and had a bull take a run at me. first time a bull ever charged me, I’ve had the moms charge at me more than once. Pretty sure I had a bear drink all my beer too. :<) each one got a hole poked in them a dick with a stick or a canine tooth?

Geoffrey davis
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Geoffrey davis
5 years ago
Reply to  THC

Bears shooting beers?

Lost Croat Outburst
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Lost Croat Outburst
5 years ago
Reply to  THC

This is the “rut” so you are more likely to get rushed by a bull in the fall. Keep your distance. Their ‘nads activate for just a few weeks a year so they have a limited window for aggressive behavior and rampant sexual activity, unlike human males who have the whole year (like Georgetown Prep).

Great pictures!

Geoffrey davis
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Geoffrey davis
5 years ago

Fantastic pics.. thanks….. Seen a few on the river in and around Fort Seward/Alderpoint…

Lynn H
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Lynn H
5 years ago
Reply to  Geoffrey davis

That’s awesome. Thanks for the info. I’m always glad to hear of them expanding.

Small Fry
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Small Fry
5 years ago

Elk are cool. So awesome.

Don
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Don
5 years ago

So why do we shoot these animals ?

Steve
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5 years ago
Reply to  Don

Steaks and roasts…Duh

DEAD DOG
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DEAD DOG
5 years ago

long valley laytonville 250+ elk round valley 75+ elk pottler valley 350 + elk little lake valley 65+ elk eaden valley 300+elk sherwood valley 275+elk all tule elk fort bragg to piercy to humboldt county line 150 +roosevelt elk eel river spy rock /bell spring 15 + roosevelt elk ALL IN MENDOCINO COUNTY 2018 1960 IN MENDOCINO 0 ELK

Lynn H
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Lynn H
5 years ago
Reply to  DEAD DOG

Wow, that’s awesome, thanks for the info. By Little Lake Valley do you mean Willits? I saw 3 cross the road there years ago but never saw them again. I looked… I thought they got eaten.

Emily
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Emily
5 years ago

There has been a nice here at christy ranch in blue lake lately right of 299. They used to move around more, lately they seem to be there all the time. I can’t wait until there are enough around when we can hunt them again.

Lynn H
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Lynn H
5 years ago
Reply to  Emily

They can be hunted now outside of parks. Limited tags. Mostly on private land which requires a fee to the landowner in addition to the tag..

Emily, is the herd near Blue Lake habituated or shy? Can you easily get within 150-200 feet on foot or 80 ft in your car?