Boulder County neighborhood hosting elk that 'thinks she's a dog'

Boulder Daily Camera ^ | 28 Jun, 2018 | Charlie Brennan

[MtnClimber]

Colorado wildlife officials have growing concerns that a yearling female elk raised from a calf by a woman west of Boulder, seen as a cute curiosity by some, is a cautionary tale that could end badly.

In fact, Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff have raised the possibility that the animal could need to be put down, should its interactions with humans take a bad turn. Some call the elk Marie, and others know her as Maybelle. But along Cougar Drive near Walker Ranch, it seems everyone knows the animal, which they say was raised by a woman who has since moved from the area after a house fire heavily damaged her residence Jan. 15.

Several people have repeated a story that the elk was taken in by that woman after its mother was struck and killed by a car.

"That is not confirmed," Colorado Parks and Wildlife District Wildlife Manager Peter Boyatt said. "It is all speculation and rumor."

Boyatt said the elk has become so accustomed to human contact, it entered one area home the first weekend of June, where its brief visit was caught on video. It also entered another nearby homeowner's basement sometime about June 16.

There are reports of the animal being able to flip handles on doors to gain entry. And Boyatt can go one better.

"I got one report of the elk actually turning on the spiggot in someone's backyard," he said. "This elk is extremely habituated. It doesn't surprise me when an wild animal is raised (by humans) that this is the type of behavior you get. It doesn't display wild characteristics."

[Osage Orange]

Elk back straps are very good......

[octex]

Those are great photos on your home page, MC! Beautiful area to live in...

[Trump20162020]

Boulder, CO

Same place that held a candlelight vigil for a dead elk a few years ago.

http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_22322028/residents-mourn-boulder-elk-at-candlelight-vigil

[cynwoody]

The officers placed on leave in that case were later charged and convicted. The arrest warrant affidavit gives a detailed account of their actions.

[Ken H]

“There is an elk cow staying in a pasture along 287 with a couple of bulls.”

I first read that as “There is an elk cow staying in a pasture along with 287 bulls.”

[blueplum]

It's a yearling so there's still time to avoid berserk male/female syndrome IF the yearling is placed on a reserve with other elk and with absolutely no human contact other than supplemental feeding to be done at a distance. The animal needs to learn how to be an elk from other elks. A reserve in Alaska would be good.

[Larry Lucido]

[Laslo Fripp]

We used to live in Jackson Hole, home of the National Elk Refuge. It is totally fenced off from civilization. Would it be possible to have her sedated and trailered up there?

[T-Bird45]

“If it was a buck there might be cause for concern. But a doe? Nah, let her be.”

Buck/doe = deer

Bull/cow = elk

Just a short FYI offered gently this early Friday morning.

[LibertyOh]

I have a miniature schnauzer who runs like a rabbit. Think he learned it from chasing them. Hind legs together in hopping run. Doesn’t think he is one, though, unless it’s a cannibal rabbit as he did bring one home. Skinned.

[epluribus_2]

Not bad but wrap it in bacon to prevent dryness.

[VTenigma]

Pets you can eat!

[marktwain]

There are other options, including release in a wilderness area and letting him/her take their chances.

---

Perhaps you can start a fund for this charitable enterprise. It should not cost more than $20,000.

It will have to be done by professionals, of course. The State does not allow ordinary citizens to move wild animals around without their consent.

The chance of the elk surviving this move is low.

Such habituated, large animals almost always become a serious danger at some point.

[dangus]

Didn’t there used to be some sort of social club for elks?

[dangus]

Does a GREAT impression of a lamb, too ;-)

[FreedomPoster]

Rule #1 of menu parsing: almost everything goes better with bacon.

[dangus]

>>>> I got one report of the elk actually turning on the spiggot in someone’s backyard <<<<

>> Given the intelligence this young elk has demonstrated, I would personally like to have him/her in Congress over what we have now. <<

We need one who knows how to turn OFF the spigot. ;-)

[MUDDOG]

Stevie Nicks looked like one of those unkempt bag ladies with 20 cats.

[dljordan]

“This is only a few miles from where I live as the crow flies. I don’t think my dogs would think it was a dog though.”

Driving home from IBM one day on N. 75th? I forget which road but I look over and there was a Moose. Wildlife removed it the next day. It really screwed my mind up for a few minutes.

[Lurker]

“Should be loved and protected.”

If it’s a Bull Elk you’re talking about an animal that can be 5 feet tall and weigh 600-700 pounds. Their antlers can grow to 4 feet long. One wrong move and someone is very, very badly injured or dead.

Female elks are skittish beasts that can kill with a single kick of a hoof.

This animal needs to be removed from this setting, humanely and alive if reasonably possible. Then it should be moved far, far away from people. That will most likely be a death sentence for the animal as it apparently is poorly equipped to survive in the wild.

Elk are not dogs. They can be extremely dangerous.

L