Oklahoma
‘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.
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.
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.