Did you spot the elk calf in Matthew Hill’s photo this morning? Here it is!
When I asked Matthew how, in the tagging process, he found the hidden calves, he replied:
Typically the cow has a vaginal insert transmitter that comes out when the calf drops, which allows us to pinpoint the birth location. Several hours later the cow and calf move a short distance off the birth location where the calf conceals itself. Say, within 50-500 m. When we arrive, the cow leaves the area but will come back within 4-5 hrs. We systematically survey the area looking for it. Really hard game of hide and seek!
Example of an “activated” vaginal insert transmitter (“vit”) recovered at birth location.
More: a wolf attacked another calf, but mom apparently drove it off. Matthew:
I’ve attached pics from yesterday of a five day old calf that survived a wolf attack only hrs before we arrived. Very lucky calf. It must have been a single wolf, and the cow was able to fend it off. If two or more wolves, the cow would have bailed to live to breed another day.
Wowwww …yeah, never would I have … intriguing background story, thanks.
Wow. I didn’t realize that along with the reveal there’d be a story from the day before. Lucky mom, lucky calf.
I didn’t get it. And I don’t think I would have.
I never would have found. Good thing a wolf didn’t see it either.
I’m so glad the other calf was saved by the mom.
It was where I vaguely suspected.
Interesting post all around!
It is where and what I thought it was, but I was way too unsure to be willing to comment on the previous post.
To this old Wisconsonite, it is wonderful to hear about elk and wolves in Wiaconsin. When I grew up there, there were no elk, and essentially zero permanent resident wolves. Great to hear this double conservation success story! Hats off to you for being part of it.