The Columbia Press
4
September 23, 2022
Elk: Destructive yet enduring wildlife lifts its head
Continued from Page 1
Stevens State Park, on Pacific
Drive and on Jetty Street in
Hammond.
“I am told the ‘rut’ season
is the main cause of the ag-
gressiveness and, other than
the one elk who was ramming
vehicles and being aggressive
toward people, this is not un-
usual for the season,” Police
Chief Matt Workman said.
“We have not received any
reports of injured people or
pets, but have received infor-
mation of several close calls.”
Workman posted a warning
from Oregon Department of
Fish and Wildlife on the de-
partment’s Facebook page
along with a photo of damage
done to a vehicle locally.
Several people, including
Reporting problems
If you experience or wit-
ness aggressive behavior
toward humans, call 503-
325-4411 in Warrenton or
503-738-6311 in Gearhart
or Seaside.
Remember, the mere
presence of elk is not a
cause for alarm, but a
charming part of life in this
region. Nevertheless, use
caution and keep your
distance.
Jessie Nicole and Tanya Ja-
cobson, talked of their en-
counters with elk while sim-
ply driving down the road.
“He came out of nowhere on
me. I didn’t stop,” according
to Jacobson. “I slowed down
to go around them. He came
A herd of elk congregate at Robinson Community Park (Cindy
Yingst). Left: Damage done to a car by an angry elk at Pacific Drive
and Seventh Street in Hammond on Sept. 16 (Courtesy WPD).
out of the trees and tried to
chase me down. … I was able
to get enough speed to outrun
him or he would have gotten
my car, too!”
Nicole wrote: “I was in
Hammond last night just
driving home and this elk
stabbed his horns into the
side of my vehicle. He came
out of nowhere! … I was driv-
ing down a side road when I
got hit. I was pulling up to a
stop sign. Not once did I see
the elk until after the fact.”
ODFW and Oregon State
Police also have received re-
ports of aggressive bull elk.
“We urge the public to be
aware of their surroundings,
keep their distance from
elk and never feed wildlife,”
ODFW wrote in a statement.
“While bull elk will become
more aggressive during rut-
ting season, habituation to
humans can lead to increased
aggression. Keep pets leashed
and at a safe distance.”
Fish and Wildlife were in
Warrenton and Hammond
earlier this week looking
for the aggressive elk that’s
charging vehicles.
At least one ill or injured
calf was put down, Workman
said, but its demise wasn’t
associated with aggressive
behavior.
Bridge to close
twice overnight
Youngs Bay Bridge will be
closed Thursday and Friday
nights, Sept. 22 and 23, for
annual cable greasing and
other maintenance, the De-
partment of Transportation
announced.
Closures are from 9 p.m.
to 5 a.m. both nights, with a
detour available across Old
Youngs Bay Bridge.