Subject: [Tweeters] off topic: Elk in Bellingham?
Date: Dec 8 19:10:53 2011
From: vogelfreund at comcast.net - vogelfreund at comcast.net
Dec 8th '11
Today after wandering along the Interurban trail and nearby Mud Bay, I was wearily (i'm old) trudging back along Old Fairhaven Parkway, and nearing the senior complexes on the south side of the road. A large deer (I thought) came out of the bushes and proceeded to cross the busy road, bringing traffic to a halt. I noticed that it had a large buff-colored rump, but it didn't connect in my mind as to what that might mean. Later on, when relaxing in my apartment, it dawned on me that it could have been an elk! So I got out my decades old Peterson mammal guide, and lo and behold, our local black-tailed deer do not have a large buffy rump patch.
Phil Hotlen
Bellingham, WA