Rare Giant Bull Elk Spotted in Northwestern Iowa
Spotting a wild elk in Iowa is one of those rare, once-in-a-lifetime moments that will make you hit the brakes and do a double-take. But if you are going to see one of these majestic animals in the Hawkeye State, the odds are heavily in your favor right now in the northwestern and northern counties.
Why is this the best time to spot one of these rare beasts in Iowa? It all comes down to timing. We are currently right in the middle of the elk rut (their active mating season).
This is also the exact time where combines are rolling through the fields for harvest season. As the tall corn comes down and the landscape opens up, these transient elk suddenly have fewer places to hide. That combination of wandering animals and clearing fields is exactly how a giant bull elk was recently caught on camera in northwestern Iowa.
Check out this recent Facebook Video of a Bull Elk spotted in Clay County Iowa.
If you're wondering how a mountain animal ends up in a Midwest farm field, he’s likely on a fairly long road trip. While Iowa no longer has an established, breeding elk population, it does occasionally get visitors passing through.
These transient elk are almost always young, bachelor males. During the rut, the older, dominant bulls become increasingly aggressive and push the younger males out of their territory. Looking for new herds, these young bulls will wander hundreds of miles eastward from their original territory in the Black Hills and the Pine Ridge region of western Nebraska. They follow river corridors and tree lines right into our area, unaware that they've crossed state lines.
Iowa Was Once Home to a Native Elk Population
Up until the 1860s, elk were year-round residents that thrived on the open Iowa prairie. However, as the state was rapidly settled, the herds were pushed out, with the last native Iowa elk reported roughly 155 years ago in 1871.
These days, around a dozen elk (almost always young males) a spotted each year in the Hawkeye State, and it's almost always during the early autumn/harvest season.
If you happen to see one of these magnificent creatures yourself, make sure to keep your distance. Wild Bull Elk can be unpredictable, especially during the rut.
To learn more about Wild Elk in Iowa, and other occasional visitors, check out this article from the Iowa DNR.
