On Wednesday, June 25th we planned to walk around Lake Junaluska and then drive up to see the elk at Cataloochee, but driving down the main highway in Maggie Valley on the way to Lake Junaluska we were alerted that a full grown bull elk had made its way into Maggie and was easily visible on some property next to the highway.
Sure enough, we soon spotted cars pulled over and people stopping to look at the elk in someone’s yard right on Soco Road, which is the main road through Maggie Valley. We parked at the Shell station parking lot and I got out my camera.
This very large bull elk was enjoying a leisurely snack in someone’s front yard in Maggie Valley on Soco Road.
THIS is what you DON’T do, boys and girls. Elk are protected and the National Park guidelines say that you don’t get any closer than 150 feet. A bull this size (about 700 pounds) could decide you’re threatening his domain and charge you, causing serious injury or death. This pea-brain was lucky.
Just an absolutely beautiful and majestic creature.
