Thanks for your comment and some imagery that will probably keep me up nights...hooves...ouch!

She was actually a great model, very docile and one of the prettiest elk I saw on the trip. Many of the others were still shedding winter fur and were a pretty mottly crew.

This is taken at the edge of a golf course not a stones throw from downtown Estes Park. The must like the grass there as there were nearly 30 expectant moms and yearlings on the course. Must be a common occurance there...people were still playing like they were part of the landscape. Take care!

Larry in Boulder #1451746

Sorry, didn't want to give you the heebie jeebies. =) I'm pretty sure the hooves have a sort of sock over them to keep them from harming mommy, same with horses. Still...as a baby I swear horses and elk are all elbows and knees, and the mommy doesn't have the luxury of being able to poke them back if they are getting too aggressive.

I would love going to that golf course! There was one near my old house that had bunnies everywhere, and occasionally there would be an elk come down from the mountains, but seeing as how it was in the middle of town, they didn't stay long. Once or twice there was a cougar and once even a jaguar or something that had escaped from somewhere. We didn't golf but we used to walk around the track that circled the golf course...we stayed away when the big cats were there. They got rid of the bunnies eventually too, said they were all too sick though they looked healthy and had been there for years.

I'm glad you got the experience, she's very pretty and I love the picture. #1452430