Estes Park in Larimer County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Animals in Flux

By Connor Olson, August 25, 2020

1. Animals in Flux Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Elk descend to this meadow and other lowlands when higher elevations are blanketed by snow in fall, winter, and spring. Preferring forests by day, elk are most often seen grazing here at dawn or dusk.

By 1900, elk were hunted out of this area. But in 1913, Yellowstone elk were released here. About the same time, hunters began to eliminate the area's bears and wolves. With few predators, the elk population increased until it numbered in the thousands. Now, park managers are working to bring the population to a sustainable level.

During the fall breeding season, or rut, elk gather here. Bulls compete for cows by displaying their antlers and producing "bugle” calls. At all times - and especially during the breeding season wildlife watchers must observe from a distance.

Caption: Relative sizes of an adult male elk, an adult female, and a yearling

Erected by USDI National Park Service.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1900.

Location.

Meadows around Sheep’s Lakes image. Click for full size.

By Connor Olson, August 25, 2020

2. Meadows around Sheep’s Lakes

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40° 24.279′ N, 105° 37.157′ W. Marker is in Estes Park, Colorado, in Larimer County. Marker is on Fall River Road (U.S. 34), on the left when traveling west. Located at the Sheeps Lake overlook. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Estes Park CO 80517, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Woodpecker Army (approx. 1.1 miles away); Rocky Mountain’s “Parks” (approx. 1.4 miles away); Ancient Paths, Ancient Peoples (approx. 2.2 miles away); Changing Times Bring Changing Uses (approx. 2.2 miles away); Horseshoe Park (approx. 2.3 miles away); Rocky Mountain National Park Administration Building (approx. 4.1 miles away); Stephen Tyng Mather (approx. 4.1 miles away); Roger Wolcott Toll (approx. 5.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Estes Park.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 15, 2021. It was originally submitted on January 9, 2021, by Connor Olson of Lemmon, South Dakota. This page has been viewed 30 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 9, 2021, by Connor Olson of Lemmon, South Dakota. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.