Observation ID: 54614

Submitted by pongomom on
Condition
Dead
Animal
Elk
Identification Confidence
100% certain
Observation Date / Time

Doe. Steep slope on W sde of road, residences and Russian River on the E. On the return trip at 8:45 there was a road crew wth three vehicles and a 'men working' sign, looking at the carcass and trying to figure out what the heck to do with it. Gone by 9:50. There is a small herd of Tule Elk centered about 2 miles to the east, but I have never seen one at this location even though I have driven the route several times a week for 30 years. -- I heard subsequently that they brought in a large back-hoe and lifted it onto the bed of a truck. I have also heard that elk are often seen closer to this area - maybe 3/4 mile to the east. -- This is the time of grape harvest, and there is increased traffic day and night including a lot of heavy trucks.
5 Feb 2013 - Since October a regular elk crossing has developed near this site. About Feb 1 a pair of 'Caution: Elk Crossing' signs were put up. This morning at 06:21 there were three elk crossing the road in the exact spot. We could easily have hit them in the dark, having driven this road thousands of times, but we were alerted by the new signs. They ambled across the road and did not seem the least concerned with the headlights.

Observer
George Chaniot
Travel Frequency
weekly
Estimated Time Since Impact
definitely less than 12 hours
Roadway Speed Limit
45 mph
Road Type
local paved
Location Description
Potter Valley Road

Observation Map