Sure, Northern California is home to some spectacular zoos and wildlife refuges, but nothing beats observing wildlife where they really belong—in nature. If you’re the type of person that likes to see out animals in their natural habitat, then a visit to this spectacular elk preserve in our state is simply a must. Home to hundreds of elk over a vast swath of beautiful coastland, this preserve is bound to take your breath away. Remember to bring a camera!
Northern California is filled with an abundance of wildlife, and one of the most notable are elk. Our region of the state is a great place to go searching for large herds of majestic elk, and the best place of all is the Tule Elk Preserve at Point Reyes National Seashore.
This specific elk preserve is just one of 22 sites across the state that manage Tule elk populations. This species of elk is pretty special since they can only be found here in California, specifically in grasslands and marshes.
Tule elk are the smallest types of elk found in North America, but they still incredibly majestic. Although they were once found all over the state, Tule elk were nearly brought to extinction by the 1860s. They survived only once the state awarded them complete protection.
These lovely animals were first brought to Point Reyes in 1978. Just two bulls and eight cows were transported from San Luis Island Wildlife Refuge. However, it wasn't long before they began to multiply!
Ten years later, the population of elk here had grown to 93 animals. When the elk were last counted in 2009, over 440 were counted at Tomales Point. Fascinatingly enough, this makes the Point Reyes herds one of the largest in the entire state.
Tule elk can be observed all over Point Reyes, but you'll find the majority of them at the preserve located at Tomales Point. August through October is considered the most exciting time to visit them, since this is "rut season"—at the time of year where males bugle in an attempt to round up females for mating.
Seeing these beautiful creatures is definitely something every animal lover should experience. Just remember to always keep your distance from the elk, stay on marked trails, remain quiet, and never feed the elk.
The fact that Tule elk can only be found here in the Golden State makes seeing these animals an especially memorable experience! Learn more about how to find them at at the National Park Service website here.
