The daily Astorian., March 11, 2016, WEEKEND EDITION, Image 21

FRIDAYEXTRA !
The Daily Astorian
Friday, March 11, 2016
Weekend Edition
THE ELK WHISPERER
Hammond woman delights in giving treats to the beasts
By DERRICK
DePLEDGE
The Daily Astorian
W
arrenton Police
Chief Mathew
Workman did
not mention
her by name. But when he
told the City Commission in
February about a woman who
feeds elk from her car window,
everyone knew it was Connie
Loomis.
The 76-year-old caregiver
in Hammond is not exactly
incognito. She shared the
photos she took of elk snack-
ing on fruit with the police
department and the newspa-
per. Her email address is a
play on “elk whisperer” and
her birth year.
Loomis quibbles with the
police chief’s description of
her driving into the center of
a herd and passing out treats.
She says the elk come to her,
most of the time.
“They come right to my
car,” she explained. “They like
apples and pears. And they
also like honeydew melon.
“If I didn’t think I’d get a
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them a bale of alfalfa.”
Her fun will soon end. The
City Commission approved an
ordinance Tuesday night pro-
hibiting people from feeding
wildlife, a direct response to
Loomis and others who feed
the North Coast’s robust elk
population. Violators could
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Wildlife experts warn
against feeding the animals.
There were several reports
last year of aggressive elk
in residential neighbor-
hoods. The elk could also be
at risk if they associate peo-
ple with food and become too
domesticated.
Loomis says she has never
had a problem or felt in any
danger. “They nuzzle,” she
said. “They nuzzle right at me
through the window.”
She does not intend to con-
tinue feeding the elk, though,
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“No, I really don’t think I
will,” she said. “If they’re on
Connie Loomis/Submitted Photos
my back porch, I may give Connie Loomis, who lives in Hammond, feeds the elk. A new city ordinance in Warrenton
them a treat.”
prohibits people from feeding wildlife, with fines of up to $250.