Elk activity in Cataloochee Valley is increasing. As we roll into autumn and the rut begins the interactions among herd members will escalate. Elk, like most herd animals, are fairly noisy. There are grunts and mews and chirps primarily from the cows.

But when the bulls’ necks begin to swell and the hormones begin to rage, it’s their shrill bugling whistle that takes center stage. Bulls bugle to announce their presence to the cows and to challenge or accept challenges from other bulls. Cows can get a good impression of their suitor by the bugle. Large mature bulls call louder and longer than their adolescent competitors.

Where bulls are concerned, discretion appears to be the better part of valor. Bulls usually know when they’re outmatched and confrontations seldom end in battle. However when combatants of similar size and determination square off, a little convincing is required.

These massive (700-plus pounds) gladiators with their impressive antlers can put on quite a show. Still, when the dust clears and the grunting and shoving and clanging of antlers is all over, there is seldom serious injury.

There have been reports of bugling from the valley. Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation photographer Rebecca Shiflett of Knoxville, Tenn., said she heard bugling on Tuesday morning, Sept. 4. According to Shiflett there was a group of about seven elk in Mulls Meadow that morning.

“Bull Number 1 [herd members arei identified by their tag number] appeared to be the dominant bull and it looked like he had a harem of four cows. Bulls Number 2 and 22 were also grazing nearby.”
Bulls number 1 and 2 are mature adults and number 22 is an adolescent. Shiflett said 22 generally keeps a respectful distance and if 2 gets closer than about 20 feet, Number 1 will snarl and make threatening noises.

“Number 22 likes to canter after the herd when they move,” Shiflett said. “That morning after the group finished grazing they crossed the stream and went into the woods. Number 22 started trotting after them, but Number 1 returned to chase him back into the meadow. Number 1 went back into the woods, and about five minutes later I heard the bugle. It was wonderful.”

Later that same afternoon, number 2 and 22 put on a 20-minute sparring exhibition in Mulls Meadow.
“There were about six cars with visitors that got a great show,” Shiflett said.

Jennifer Murrow, the lead field researcher for the elk project, said number 1 was a 7-year-old bull, “one of the original Elk Island animals.” She said he had been exhibiting a lot of territorial behavior.

Other elk in Cataloochee have also been on the move. According to Murrow, two cows have recently joined the two bulls that have apparently taken up residence in the Big Cove community of the Cherokee Indian Reservation.

Teresa McCoy, tribal council representative from Big Cove, said the elk have become a popular attraction with people journeying from Tennessee and other areas to see them.

“They have a routine, they come out in the evening, go to the same place for a drink of water and then begin grazing,” she said.

One of the cows that made the sojourn to Cherokee was Number 5.

“She’s always been a loner,” Murrow said.

But on this trip she was joined by Number 6. Murrow said the cows took almost the same exact route the bulls had taken weeks earlier. She said she didn’t know if they could be actually following the scent of the bulls after all this time or if they (and the bulls) were simply following the path of least resistance.

Murrow said the cow that had been hanging out with its calf near K.L. Williams’ farm along White Oak Road in Haywood County had been darted and was presently in the acclimation pen. She said researchers would go back and dart the calf also.

“They were starting to draw a crowd and they were very close to I-40. We just felt they would be safer back in the park,” Murrow said.

Williams’ brother, Hugh, said the calf was doing fine.

“It’s trying to buddy-up with the cows,” he said.

Another bull is apparently fascinated with the Haywood County Landfill near White Oak. But the majority of the animals are staying near the meadows in Cataloochee Valley and should be quite visible and audible during the mating season — now through October. The gate into the valley does not open until 7 a.m.

 

Back to Top
The Smoky Mountain News