It was magical to encounter these beautiful Tule Elk as the sun set over Point Reyes yesterday evening.
Once numbering in the hundreds of thousands, the Tule Elk, found only in what is today called California, was considered extinct in the wild (extirpated) by 1875.
Henry Miller, a rancher in the Central Valley, discovered the last breeding pairs in 1874, sparking a 150 year effort to save the species.
Today over 500 Tule Elk live at Point Reyes National Seashore, many of which are found on a wildlife preserve dedicated to their preservation. Hikers are welcome to take the trail for a chance to spot them.
It was a thrill to see them in the wild at the tip of the Tomales Point peninsula, grazing and going about their business in the long shadows of dusk as they have for thousands of years.
You’ll notice in the second photo the elk was looking directly at me, indicating I broke the cardinal rule of nature photography — do not disrupt the animals. The story here is that I surprised them when I crossed a ridge, and they all looked up. I had a 400mm lens with me, and backed off as I shot these at full zoom in the golden hour light, leaving them in peace as I retreated from their world.
As I hiked the two miles back in twilight and darkness, I had to pass through a herd of around 50 under the stars. Alas, it was too dark to document that portion of the experience.