Small Treasures in the Forest(Liz McCain) Living near the foothills of the Siuslaw National Forest gives me a chance to see a lot of wild animals.

Elk are all around me, and I love to go find them. Looking for calf elk and shed antlers are my favorite things to do.

When you come upon a calf elk, it goes into its 'hider strategy'. It remains still and flat, tucked near bushes or logs. It won't even blink. All you see is the black button nose and shining eyes. Its legs are tucked under it and the calf stays motionless.

The cow keeps watch from a distance, staying away to avoid leading predators to it. The cow feeds the calf about four times a day, just for a few minutes, then leaves it. I have wondered if the calf stays put by instinct, or somehow, does the cow tell her calf to stay put?

The cow will give birth to a single calf in a safe place. She may go to a traditional birthing ground where there is good cover, with food and water not far away. When you see a cow by herself in late May or June, she is probably going to have a calf soon. Very seldom does an elk have twins.

It is always a thrill to see this vulnerable animal who will grow up to be an awesome and powerful elk-curled up by itself. Elk calves have white spots to help camouflage them from predators such as bears, coyotes, cougars, and even people.

The calf is inconspicuous the first few days of life because it blends in so well with its surroundings. They have very little scent when born.

The calf grows rapidly from the cows milk; the cow licks the calf during suckling. Within a month, the calf starts to nibble on grass. The calf nurses for many months; I have seen elk kneel in order to suck.

Calves form nursery groups and one cow will baby sit them while the other cows go off to feed. The calves will follow a cow, it may or not be its mother. The calf soon learns the meaning of a cow's whistles, grunts, bleats, mews, or barks. If the cow is not alarmed of a particular sound, like trees rubbing each other, the calf will not be alarmed by it either. A soft bark locates a calf.

As the calf grows larger, the cow pays less attention to it. The ability of the calf to survive depends upon how strong and healthy it is going into the winter season. The calf will lose its spots by fall. In two or three years, this calf will be having a calf of her own, she will teach it the things that were taught to her.

One day, I looked for a calf for several hours. I decided to give up. As I climbed a gate to go home, there was a little bundle of fur curled up by the gate - it never moved!

Their hair looks like fur when first born. It is always fun to go hiking in the forest, but when you see calf elk, it is special. Born free happens in the forest.

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