June is “baby” time in Pennsylvania’s woods with fledgling birds, tiny rabbits, young groundhogs and cute fawns.
As I mentioned last week young animals found alone are not abandoned, they’re just waiting for mom. You shouldn’t “rescue” fawns and if you’re lucky enough to see an elk calf in Pennsylvania, don’t go near it!
Just like white-tailed deer, elk mothers tell their calves to “Stay!” while they go off to feed. White-tailed deer are afraid of humans and don’t raise a fuss about their fawns but elk cows are big and powerful. If you approach an elk calf, its mother may attack.
An elk cow doesn’t have antlers, but she’s not something you want to tangle with. She weighs about 500 pounds, stands 4.5 feet tall at the shoulder and is 6.5 feet long from nose to rump. When she charges, you’re the one who’ll need to be rescued!
Paul Staniszewski is quite familiar with the elk herd near Benezette, PA and explains: “Although the elk are used to seeing people, they are still very much wild and will become unpredictable and aggressive when it comes to protecting their young. If a protective female elk is endangering people in a public area, move away and call the PA Game Commission. They will temporarily close the area until the mother moves on with her calf.”
Just like humans, wildlife mothers do what they can to protect their young. Hawks and peregrines swoop at humans, mother skunks spray, black bears and elk charge. Yes, a sudden attack by a wild animal is frightening. It’s meant to be! You’re at the hands of an outraged mother and she wants you to leave.
When you’re outdoors be aware of your surroundings and watch for wildlife. Remember that mothers are protective. It’s all part of being a mom.
(photo by Paul Staniszewski)
I love this picture! Way to go Paul!
Many years ago when I was younger and more stupid then now I touched a male elk in yellow stone. The sound that came out of it I thought would cause an avalanche. I said as many prayers as I could in that split second and then it glared at me and walked away. Archy bunker was right God protects Dingbats.
Last year we were hiking in Elk State Forest north of Sinnamahoning, PA. We took a 3 mile hike into the area along a damp path, and on the way back saw a set of tracks that could only have been a mother and calf elk (I can’t believe we didn’t take a picture of the tracks). The tracks weren’t there when we hiked in, and followed the trail for about a mile. We were really glad that we weren’t using the trail at the same time they were!
Mary Ann
Early this month two red-tailed hawk parents protected their chicks and paid a steep price. Their chicks were removed from the nest in Forest Hills and the nest was destroyed because the parents swooped at someone nearby. The chicks will be raised by a rehabber until they grow up and fly. In this misunderstanding between humans and birds, the birds have lost everything. http://triblive.com/news/allegheny/6227172-74/chicks-nest-parents#axzz34PoFw1mN
Kate, I’ve been sick over the chicks that were removed from the nest. I don’t understand why the Game Commission would agree to do this when their job is to protect our wildlife. I can’t imagine how confused and scared both the chicks and the parents have been. Will the babies be able to survive on their own once released? The animals and birds have been forced to share their natural habitat with humans, so why can’t humans share as well? 🙁
Sue, the chicks will be fine. The same “learning” protocol will be used as when an injured chick recuperates and later flies on its own.
They said on the news that the parents were particularly aggressive. They showed the woman on the news who had been attacked. She had a black eye and cuts on her face. The hawk could have taken her eye out. The hawks were attacking people who were just going about their business at their homes, not threatening the nest. In a case like that, I think it was probably the right thing to do.
Mary Ann, thanks for the additional information
Wasn’t there any other way? It’s not like they were rabid bats or charging bears. I have sympathy for the woman attacked, but I’ve seen numerous stories of people dealing with this by using umbrellas or wide-brimmed hats, including a recent one in Florida, where birds were attacking library patrons to protect their nest near a library. The library put up signs and lent umbrellas for people to come and go. It’s only a short time while the birds are nesting. Hope the chicks make it O.K.