Recreational Elk Swimming

[WapitiTalk1]

Saw a first this past weekend when I was scouting a new spud state elk area.  While scoping up atop a high ridge, buddy and I watched 12-13 elk feeding and drinking along an alpine lake (mid afternoon). As I watched the 10ish cows/calves, spike, and one small bull (4X5) move along the waters edge, the bull waded deeper and deeper into the lake and finally...... kerplunk, started to swim about.  I know that obviously elk can swim, but, have never seen one just poke in to a lake to cool off.  It was in the mid 90s up there, even at 7K+, so I spose the young guy was just doing some recreational swimming/cooling off.  Anybody else seen this before?  It was really cool (pun intended).      

[boneaddict]

Yes.   In the last day or so theres a video on social media of a big herd of bulls in NorCal  that are all swimming, standing out in the middle of a lake.  Pretty cool.   I have a few river shots.

[Shawn Ryan]

Every few years we would see them in Curtis Lake, near St. Helens. But not really swimming because its not deep enough, but just hanging out in the middle of the lake.

[pianoman9701]

I've seen deer and moose swimming before. Never an elk but that wouldn't surprise me a bit.