Bay Area Elk
On Saturday, August 11, 2012, I went on the Yaggies hike to the northernmost tip of Point Reyes, California to check out the 450 elk that live in this northwestern corner of the Bay Area. And I was in luck. Far from being elusive like mountain lions or the rumored Suburban Sasquatch of Southern California , I saw approximately 100 elk in three different groups spread throughout the Tomales Elk Preserve . The Tule Elk, which became almost extinct in California due to over-hunting during the Gold Rush, looked more like reindeer than the mule deel seen throughout California. The Tule Elk bulls boasted enormous antlers. Just one antler weighs quite a bit! Also interesting about the hike was learning a bit about Marin County's early dairy farming history. The hike starts from Pierce Point Ranch , which produced butter starting back in the late 1850s. There are still cows at nearby ranches. The land is now used exclusively for the elk preserve, but it still h...