What are you doing here?

I photographed these elk along Coal Creek this morning, on the west side of highway 93. They normally cross the highway to calving grounds in spring and use Rocky Flats as a nursery; so I was very surprised to see a large gathering of cows on the west side... I wonder if they stopped migrating across the dangerous highway. I'll have to make a trip to Rocky Flats to find out soon... to be continued.

A few of thoses cows are showint their pregnancy. After seeing Jack's images showing all the snow in the mountains, seems it will be longer than a while until the elk can get to the summer pastures above treeline.

Doug, you're right, it does look like 3 or 4 are pregnant. I thought they would've dropped their calves by now... but I have seen them at Rocky Flats earlier in May. This particular herd doesn't go to the alpine zone in summer - they stay in the Coal Creek drainage year round and I suspect they may not migrate across hwy. 93 this year.

I love seeing them surrounded by all that spring green, Dave!