Interesting encounter with elk today

[big wood]

So heading to work this morning, a cow came on the road with 5 new calves. They seamed spooked but unsure it was from my rig coming toward them but not sure because I was probably 250 yards from them. They scampered across the road in a hurry. When I came to their crossing they were gone and no sign of anymore cows that hadn't crossed yet. I could see down the road a good 500 yards so I don't believe the cows had crossed first. It seemed odd to me that 1 cow was running with 5 calves. I am concerned that maybe someone may be poaching elk. This is in Kapowsin which everyone knows of the elk population. Just wondering of any thoughts.

[KDB]

I've seen cows with 3 or 4 calves in the summer before and thought the cow was baby sitting like cattle do at times. J.ust a guess

[Waycott15]

Yeah seems a bit strange. I would just give the game warden a call and let them know they're usually Pretty cool with stuff like that. I've called on a couple things in my area that were suspicious and they actually took the time to look into and contact me back to inform me what they found out. Never know might catch someone ruining it for the rest of us.

[dreamunelk]

Something disturbed  the group and the calves followed the closest cow.  She will take care of them and get them back with the group.

[JimmyHoffa]

Yeah, was thinking a nanny cow.  Looking to catch up with the herd.

[danderson]

That's pretty common cows take on a nursery group of calf's looking after them all the time

[pianoman9701]

I couldn't find the video I saw a few years ago. But it was of a few cows watching the young ones play, like 15 of them, while their mothers were grazing a short distance away.

[Duckslayer89]

So heading to work this morning, a cow came on the road with 5 new calves. They seamed spooked but unsure it was from my rig coming toward them but not sure because I was probably 250 yards from them. They scampered across the road in a hurry. When I came to their crossing they were gone and no sign of anymore cows that hadn't crossed yet. I could see down the road a good 500 yards so I don't believe the cows had crossed first. It seemed odd to me that 1 cow was running with 5 calves. I am concerned that maybe someone may be poaching elk. This is in Kapowsin which everyone knows of the elk population. Just wondering of any thoughts.

I saw a huge cow with 3 calves a few days ago up there

[westside bull]

 

I've seen cows with 3 or 4 calves in the summer before and thought the cow was baby sitting like cattle do at times. Just a guess

[Waycott15]

Guess I need to educate myself some more

[big wood]

Well this info makes me feel better

[257wbymagkiller]

Its been odd for me to im right there in kapowsin and am seeing alot of calfs with only a couple cows 

Id say 1 cow to 2-3 calfs

[warthog]

yep she was babysitting !

deer do the same thing.   a few times i've seen 20 -30 deer in a field and a doe at each corner of an imaginary square or rectangle.  inside the perimeter would be all the fawns.  the rest of the does would be spread out all over the field feeding.   sometimes the nannies would be at points of a compass so to speak.  was a bit amazed the 1st time i realized what i was seeing.

i  can only recall this type of setup where there were big predators about.