Cataloochee Elk Breeding Season At GSMNP
Most people visit the Great Smoky Mountains in the fall for the fall foliage. But fall is also the time for Cataloochee elk breeding season. Elk rut in September and October. Elk herds are located in the Cataloochee Valley area in the southeastern section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Maggie Valley, NC. In 2001, 52 wild elk were released in the area in order to restore the declining elk population in the United States. Now the herd has grown to numbers over 200.
Herd of Elk in Cataloochee Valley
Rutting Season For Elk
A trip to Cataloochee in the fall during rut season is an interesting and exciting experience. The bugle or mating call of bulls can be heard during the breeding season. Male elk make bugling calls to challenge other bulls (male)and attract cows (female). Bull elk actively defend their territory by charging and sparring with other bull elk. They use their antlers to intimidate and fight with other males. Bull elk will rear and charge one another to prove which is dominant.
The best times to view elk in Cataloochee Valley are in the early morning and in the late evening. They are also more active on cloudy days. Their habits are similar to deer. The best way to view the elk is by using binoculars or thru the lens of a camera used for close-up photos.
Elk In the Field in Autumn
Some of the elk have tags on their ears. A yellow tag means it was one of the original releases in 2001. An orange tag means the elk was born in the park. Some of the elk have a radio collar around their neck so biologists can monitor the elk. The tracking device allows the biologist to monitor the animals’ movement and life span.
Where To Go To View Elk
Most of the elk are located in the Cataloochee Valley area in the southeastern section of the park. Some elk have migrated to other areas of the Great Smoky Mountains. But your best chance of spotting elk is in the Cataloochee Valley area. The easiest way to reach Cataloochee is from Interstate highway I-40. Exit I-40 at North Carolina exit #20. After 0.2 miles, turn right onto Cove Creek Road and follow signs 11 miles into Cataloochee valley. Travel time is about 45 minutes to get to the valley from the I-40 exit.
You can also go on a Cataloochee Valley Elk Tour. They offer the “guided Evening Elk Eco-Tour or a Sunrise Elk Eco-Tour, offered year-round weather permitting”. Enjoy a tour in their eco-friendly Cadillac Escalade Hybrid vehicles.
Proceed With Caution
Large Elk in Road
As a visitor to the Cataloochee Valley during rut season, you need to be very cautious. Getting too close may cause a bull to see you and even your vehicle as a threat. This could cause the bull to charge at you or your vehicle. Never approach elk calves in order to pet them. Female elk with small calves can charge visitors to defend their calves. It’s not unusual to see on the news video of someone that got too close to an elk and the elk charged the person. While in the area even when elk are not seen in the fields visitors are not allowed to walk into the fields. Viewing the elk should be from a distance of 150 feet. Elk are large animals and can be dangerous to be near especially during rut season. Never feed the elk or bait them to come close so you can take a picture. Feeding park wildlife is strictly forbidden by law.
This warning is directly from the NPS
Willfully approaching within 50 yards (150 feet), or any distance that disturbs or displaces elk, is illegal in the park. Violation of this federal regulation can result in fines and arrest. Do not enter fields to view elk—remain by the roadside and use binoculars, telephoto lens, or a spotting scope to view the animals.
