After the boys' baseball game the other night, we stopped for a quick visit at the elk farm. The owner was feeding them their supper, so it turned out to be a great time to see the elk. The boys were fascinated and really enjoyed hand-feeding them. They were also able to (very carefully!) rub the velvet on the bulls antlers. It is incredibly soft!
He talked to us about some of the trials and tribulations of raising what are realistically, still, wild animals. There are more than 50 in the herd right now, with a few fawns. We actually got to see one of the fawns, which he said was unusual because the cows usually hide them back further in the pasture while they come up front to eat their grain.
He has to watch himself around all of them because they will kick or butt him, but he is particularly careful around the bulls. Even when they aren't in rut, they can be dangerous. When they are in rut,(breeding season) they are deadly. Last year several of them were killed as they battled for the cows. (He hadn't intended to have so many in the pasture, but a buyer fell through.) In the past, a bull has picked him up and tossed him out the gate. The left a scar the length of his back to remind him to always be vigilant!
Aren't they beautiful?
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