Viewing Roosevelt Elk
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West Coast inhabitants call them Roosevelt Elk (Cervus canadensis roosevelti), a large subspecies of elk native to the Pacific Northwest.
The species is known not only for its size, second only to moose in the deer family (Cervidae), but also for their white rump patch. Males, like the one in the top picture, can weigh up to one thousand pounds. Their annual antler growth makes them a formidable foe against all natural predators in their territory, save humans.
In 1938 President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed legislation creating the Olympic National Park, on the coastal area of Washington State's Olympic Peninsula, intending it to be an elk sanctuary. Seventy years later, the park is home to a thriving elk herd, named in President Theodore Roosevelt's honor, who earlier initiated the campaign to save the elk. Additional historical information on the Roosevelt Elk can be found at the Lewis and Clark website.
Roosevelt Elk viewing continues to delight people of all ages. In addition to seeing them in the Olympic National Park, Pacific Northwest visitors can choose from among a variety of elk viewing options.
The Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area, just east of Reedsport, OR, and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park on the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway in Northern California offer excellent elk viewing options for travellers on Pacific Coast Highway 101.
© 2008 Patricia A. Michaels