It’s summer – and that means baby animal time at Northwest Trek!
Book a Wild Drive Premier Tour and head out to our Free-Roaming Area meadows to look for bison and elk calves, black-tailed deer fawns and maybe even a bighorn sheep lamb or two.
“It’s my favorite time of year!” said Jessie Knust, assistant naturalist, who has guided tours around the Free-Roaming Area for 5 years.
How hard is it to spot little ones? Well, it depends on the animal.
Bison calves
Bison calves are the easiest, says Knust. With their rust-orange coats and hefty size (a bison already weighs around 40-50 pounds at birth) they stand out clearly against the green grass and chocolate-brown adults. This year we have one – you might even spot it nursing.
Elk calves
Elk calves are less obvious. About half the height of their mothers (30-35 pounds), they’re the same light pinky-brown, but with adorable white spots. Knust’s tip: Look for lone elk cows, as they just may be moms. This year we have seven!
Black-tailed deer
Black-tailed deer fawns are small and nimble. But they’re easy to see with brown, white-speckled coats, and they are often close to the roads with their mothers.
Bighorn sheep
Bighorn sheep lambs are the trickiest. Tiny, white and gray, they blend into the forest undergrowth where their vigilant mothers like to hide them. Keep your eyes peeled for the two we have this year!
