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‘Trying to get to Elk City?’ Video shows elk exploring Oklahoma small town, hopping fences

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‘Trying to get to Elk City?’ Video shows elk exploring Oklahoma small town, hopping fences


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An elk was caught on camera exploring several neighborhoods in Altus, Oklahoma, this week.

In a video shared on the city’s Facebook page, the elk is seen hopping over fences in a few backyards while Altus police and animal control officers, as well as the Oklahoma game warden, worked to guide the elk safely toward open land.

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When it became clear the elk wasn’t ready to leave, the team called the Oklahoma game warden to the scene and Animal Control Officer Nick West safely and humanely tranquilized the elk so it could be relocated.

“We want to thank everyone involved for their teamwork, patience, and quick response. Their efforts kept both the community and the elk safe,” the city’s post reads.

While elk may appear gentle or friendly, they’re still powerful animals, the city’s post notes.

“If you ever see one in town, the safest thing to do is admire from a distance and contact Animal Control. No selfies, no feeding, and no chasing,” the post says.

Are there any wild elk in Oklahoma?

According to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, the largest free-ranging elk herds in the state can be found in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, as well as at Pushmataha, Cookson Hills, Spavinaw, and Cherokee wildlife management areas. Small herds can also be found on private land in Kiowa, Comanche, and Caddo counties.

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Are elk rare in the south?

Seeing an elk is still a rare sight in Oklahoma, but it’s not as rare as it once was.

Elk once roamed the Wichita Mountains before Oklahoma became a state, but the population was gone by 1875. In 1901, land was set aside, which became the refuge, and seven years later, elk were reintroduced to southwest Oklahoma.

Since then, herds have grown significantly. In 2012, ODWC conducted a helicopter survey and estimated 3,200 free-ranging elk statewide, The Oklahoman previously reported. By 2019, ODWC staff estimated Oklahoma’s statewide elk population had grown to more than 5,000.



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Oklahoma

Woman hospitalized after house fire in northeast Oklahoma City

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Woman hospitalized after house fire in northeast Oklahoma City


Authorities say one woman was taken to the hospital following an early morning house fire in northeast Oklahoma City.

Around 5 a.m. on Wednesday, Oklahoma City firefighters were called to a house fire near N.E. 13th St. and Missouri.

When crews arrived, they found the victim on the front porch of the home.

“When they got off the rig and initiated offensive fire attack, found one victim on the front porch. Appeared she was maybe suffering from smoke inhalation. The fire was relatively small. It was contained to one bedroom in the back. The patient was transported, was treated here, and then transported to OU,” said Batt. Chief Brad Smith, with the Oklahoma City Fire Department.

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Officials said the fire originated in the back of the house, in a back bedroom near the closet.

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However, the cause of the fire is still under investigation.



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Bode Sparrow commits Friday: why BYU is Oklahoma’s biggest threat for the Davis star

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Bode Sparrow commits Friday: why BYU is Oklahoma’s biggest threat for the Davis star


Kaysville (Utah) Davis athlete Bode Sparrow cut his list to four back in May and has now locked in his commitment date.

Sparrow is a tremendous player on both sides of the ball and checks in as the No. 77 player nationally in the Rivals Industry Ranking, an equally weighted average that utilizes all three major recruiting services.

He will make his long awaited college choice this Friday, May 25 from a final four of BYU, Oklahoma, Oregon and Utah.

In handicapping this race, two schools jump out for us. The first is Oklahoma. I put a commit prediction in for the Sooners back in March and there was some buzz that he could commit around that time.

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Sparrow decided to hold off making an early decision in order to take his official visits. Oklahoma was the first visit locked in and for awhile, the only visit that was set, giving even more credence to the Sooners being the team to beat.

“They really believe in me and have a vision for me there,” Sparrow told us after his official visit. “They show me so much love and I have such great relationships with the coaches there.

“I also really like the town of Norman and the plan in place for me from a safety/scheme standpoint. They really have everything I’m looking for in a school. Brent Venables is great, a defensive minded head coach and I just love the all around fit.”

Sparrow followed up his visit to OU with trips to Oregon, Utah and BYU. The Ducks made a big impression and should be considered a dark horse. They are easily one of the toughest schools to recruit against and it would surprise no one if Sparrow ends in Eugene.

Saying that, the school that is gaining a lot of momentum and looks to be Oklahoma’s biggest challenger is BYU. For months we talked to some close to Sparrow, college coaches and trainers who all said the same thing, ‘don’t rule out BYU in the end.’

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No one has recruited Sparrow longer than the Cougs. He has been on campus more than any other school, he’s strong in his LDS faith and he has a great connection with the BYU staff including head coach Kalani Sitake.

BYU was able to get the final visit over the weekend and there is some quiet confidence in Provo as well as from a few other recruits/commits who were also on the visit. With the church connection, we’ve long said in a head to head battle, BYU is very tough to beat, especially for an in-state player.

Saying that, there are still Sooner commits we’ve talked to convinced Sparrow is still headed to Norman. That’s why this recruitment has become one of the more fascinating ones to follow this cycle, it’s one of those rare instances where days away from a decision, it could still go in multiple directions.

For now, my commit prediction remains on Oklahoma but BYU is closing fast and this one close to a toss up with a decision quickly approaching.

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OHP remembers K-9 for protecting countless lives during career

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OHP remembers K-9 for protecting countless lives during career


Officials with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are remembering a dedicated K-9 officer who passed away earlier this month.

K-9 Dak was born in 2014 and began serving with the OHP in 2015.

Throughout his distinguished career, officials say Dak’s exceptional instincts made a significant impact on public safety across the state.

During his career, Dak was instrumental in the seizure of over 2,000 pounds of marijuana, 46 pounds of cocaine, 151 pounds of methamphetamine, and 99 pounds of fentanyl.

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“These remarkable accomplishments represent countless lives protected and communities made safer through Dak’s service,” OHP wrote.

Dak worked his final shift on June 3 before peacefully passing away from natural causes on June 7.

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“More than his statistics and accomplishments, Dak was a loyal partner, trusted teammate, and beloved member of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. His legacy will live on through the work he accomplished, the bond he shared with his handler, and the many lives he touched throughout his career,” OHP said.

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