elk preserve

We caught some amazing shots last week at the elk preserve just outside of Reedsport in southern, coastal Oregon. The morning was incredibly foggy and the elk were uncharacteristically close to the viewpoint.

Notice in some of the shots that the male elk have lost significant amounts of their antlers. Turns out elk shed their antlers once a year, in the early spring (no longer needing them after mating season comes to a close in the late fall and the foraging technicalities of winter are over). Elk that are older and in better shape lose their antlers first.

Huh. Who knew!