Here I come, my pretty. I'm all yours.
The angry bull elk is lowering his head and scraping his front hoof on the ground to indicate danger.
Bull elk watching cow.
Bull elk on alert.
Alert elk cow wearing collar.
Elk cow.
After about five minutes, he decided to head back over towards the herd.
Ha, ha, he's leaving. I scared him off. I am the king of this herd.
Waiting and watching.
Angry bull elk standing amidst trees, right next to a red fire hydrant.
Young elk cow.
One of the cows in this herd was wearing some sort of collar, which perhaps helps track the location of the elk herds.
Two elk cows.
Bull elk (shown in previous photo) standing away from the herd. He appears to be pouting or thinking about whether it's worth going back and getting into an altercation with the other bull. Both bulls seem equal in size, but this bull's "bugle" wasn't quite as loud as that of the other bull.
Did you hear what I bugled???
This bull elk seems to be getting angrier by the minute as the other bull heads toward him.
Antlers of bull elk as he runs off.
Elk cow grazing in the early morning sun.
Cow watching the bulls as she eats leaves from a small tree. Her huge molars can be seen as she chews the leaves.
Elk cow with another member of her herd who is grazing. What a beautiful creature.
Bull elk with female in background. There is another bull elk (not visible on this photo), and this bull doesn't seem to want to fight him, so he is walking away.
My bugle is better and louder than your bugle.
Bull elk facing his challenger.
Bull heading for possible confrontation as cow looks on.
I'm elk #3.
Bull is posturing himself for a possible confrontation with another bull who is standing off to the right (out of camera range).
Pregnant (???) elk cow. Elk calves are born in May or June.
Time to warn the other bull and impress the cows with his bugle. In reality, both bulls were bugling at each other throughout the entire morning.
Bull elk watching the people who are watching him. Note how the elk's eyeballs and eye socket can turn, giving the elk 360 degree vision. The ears of the elk also can turn to hear sounds from all directions. A cow is grazing calmly in the background, not at all impressed by the bull or the people who are watching.
Elk cow grazing in the shade of pine trees.
Watchful cow wearing collar.
Bull elk watching cows, while at the same time keeping alert for his competition, who is lurking nearby.
Female elks grazing just beyond a playground. This cow seemed to be scratching an itch.