JACKSON, Wyo. — Spring is the time to try and catch a glimpse of the valley’s newcomers, the cutest baby animals.
Buckrail photographer Nick Sulzer snapped some precious pics in Wilson of a mother moose with her tiny calf, as well as what looks like a daycare for elk offspring.
According to the National Park Service, moose calves will stay with their mother for about a year. Cows exhibit a strong bond with their calves and are extremely protective. Moose, especially cows with calves, are unpredictable and have chased people at times.
Elk calves weigh about 35 pounds at birth, according to the park service, and can stand within minutes of birth. They will nurse from one to seven months and will lose their white spots toward the end of the summer.
The park service warns people not to touch or move elk calves. Though a calf may appear to be orphaned, cows frequently leave their newborn calves while they go to feed. A calf’s natural defense, like that of a white-tailed deer fawn, is to lie down and remain still.
Always keep a safe distance when viewing wildlife: 100 yards or more from bears, wolves and mountain lions, and 25 yards from all other wildlife.
