2007 Calving Summary
A few changes have occurred regarding the 2007 calving season since the last update. Within the past several weeks, a new calf has been reported around the Oconaluftee area, likely belonging to cow #47 who spends most of her time in the Ela area just south of Cherokee. The calf is probably a few months old, but because #47 is so reclusive, it had not been seen until she took it to Oconaluftee where they are more visible. This makes the calf count for 2007 to 19 known calves born, 13 of which are believed still alive (68.4%). Of the 19 calves born this year, 7 are female, 6 are male, and 6 have not been determined. For comparison, in 2006 there were 16 known calves born, 14 of which survived (87.5%). That makes 2007 our second best year for calf recruitment to date, and the survival of at least 7 young cows is certainly good news for the future of the herd!
On August 7, well after the other cows had delivered their calves, cow #18 broke away from the herd and had a female calf weighing about 30 pounds. Unfortunately, the calf’s collar was heard the following day emitting a mortality signal. The collar had been chewed on and it is believed that the calf was killed by coyotes.
The 2007 Fall Rut
Elk breeding season, known as “the rut”, is in full swing in the Great Smoky Mountains. The rut is the several-week breeding period when the cows cycle into estrus and the bulls compete for dominance to mate with the cows.
A bull’s behavior will change significantly during the rut. They will have swollen necks, much like white-tail deer and will be seen rubbing their antlers against trees and the ground. They will scrape a bare spot on the ground with their hooves and antlers and urinate in it before wallowing there. This spreads their scent across their body, announcing their presence to females and other bulls alike. A more noticeable announcement of their presence is bugling; a call the bulls make that can be heard up to a mile away in some terrains. This advertises his fitness to the cows, or challenges other bulls. If another bull accepts the challenge, the two will lock antlers and fight until an order of dominance is established. Typically, only the bigger, stronger bulls have a chance to mate with the females ensuring that the strongest genes are passed on to the offspring. When a cow cycles into estrus it lasts for less than 24 hours, so the herd bull must remain attentive, even while other bulls are challenging him.
The dominant bull for 2007 has been difficult to determine, as several bulls have taken the position for a short time before being defeated by another bull. During the first week in September the two dominant bulls from 2006, #3 (6x6) and #16 (6x7), returned to Cataloochee. These bulls remained about 20 miles apart in opposite directions from Cataloochee during most of the year but returned to the Valley within one day of each other. The same behavior was seen last year when they returned, fought, and divided the cows into two harems for the remainder of the breeding season. This year they again divided the cows into two harems. However, over the past several weeks they have each lost their harems to other bulls including #21, #7, and #67. Perhaps the most impressive bull is #67, a wide, symmetrical 6x6. He is just 4 years old but is one of the largest bulls in the herd and probably has the widest antlers of all of them. #67 had control over most of the cows for several weeks and was even seen breeding a couple of cows in the late afternoons. However, he has since been replaced again by #16.
It appears that we have reached the peak of the rut and bulls are again just beginning to tolerate other bulls in the same field as them. There is still a lot of bugling and fighting among the bulls, which is likely to continue over the next week or two.
The bulls with the largest antlers are #17, a large 8x9, and #2, a 7x8. While both bulls have been observed bugling, neither has been seen fighting or herding any cows.
Other Smoky Mountain Elk Herd News
On October 2, a report was received of two bulls whose antlers were locked together near the Oconaluftee Visitors Center. Park personnel responded and found the two bulls still locked together behind the barn at the Mountain Farm Museum, one of which was dead. The bulls were #103 and #106, both yearlings with forked spikes for antlers. As Park personnel prepared to dart and free the surviving bull, #106, it managed to get loose from the other on its own. Bull #106 appeared to be exhausted but otherwise in good health and has been doing fine since. The dead bull, #103, was taken to the University of Tennessee for necropsy and disease testing.
In September, John Shuler was hired as a Student Conservation Association intern to assist with elk management in the Great Smoky Mountains. John is 22 years old and graduated in May with a degree in Environment and Natural Resources from Clemson University. His hometown is York, South Carolina and he will be helping with herd management until December.
With the leaves changing colors this is an excellent time to visit Cataloochee to view the elk and it seems that more people are making the trip daily. If you make the trip into the Valley, please remember to pull your vehicle off of the road when viewing wildlife, as it is becoming increasingly busy and traffic can congest quickly on the narrow road. Also, please remember that the elk are at an especially agitated state right now with the pressures of the mating season, and they can become aggressive suddenly. Remain in/near your vehicle at all times in the presence of elk and do not approach them!
Report filed by Joe Yarkovich
Elk Management
