Elk Roundup

Yesterday, when last we saw our intrepid elk (whose name turned out to be Mary), she was wandering down the Persimmon Gap entrance road. Today, we find her wandering around our housing area, under the watchful eye of Bob, making herself right at home like some big dog of ours.


"Hmm. Maybe there's some snacks in here." If you recall the shot from yesterday of her tagging along after a pickup, it becomes apparent that Mary's rightful owners feed her and her kin from the back of pickups. No such luck here, though.


Well, she might've been looking for a snack, but she inhaled four bowls of water out of one of my mixing bowls without stopping. Funny thing, too -- she didn't lap it up like a dog as much as suck it up like a vacuum cleaner. Very ladylike.


Sally and Mary getting in out of the sun. We all had the grandest time visiting and making Mary feel right at home, cooing over her and petting her. She rapidly became a fixture in the community.


"Well, maybe there's something in here." Ever on the prowl for munchies, Mary checks out Ranger Cutler's vehicle in hopes of something to nosh. No luck here, either, I'm afraid. Sorry, Mary.


"Come on, Mary. Come on!" Here's Joe, a ranch hand at the Chalk Draw Ranch -- home of J. P. Bryan, the owner of the Gage Hotel -- coming to round up Mary and return her back to her herd. They have their own herd of elk there, so it's no wonder that Mary was so tame.


"This is not my trailer." Mary appears to ponder the openness and rustiness of this cattle trailer, very charitably provided by local rancher Ben Love -- in a personal appearance -- for her relocation.


And in we go. With the help of an apple provided by Sally, Mary is led into the trailer and back to the life she knows so well. Hopefully, after all the fuss we made over her, she'll be able to readjust.


Loaded up and ready to go. Here we are, watching Mary preparing to head off back to her regular life. Even though our whole day was tied up in keeping tabs on "the big dog" -- well, Bob's whole day, anyway -- it was still quite sad to see it put to an end.


And away she goes. It's funny how an event can have such an impact on your day -- or your life -- but Mary's visit was one such event which we will long remember. She will be missed.


Vaya con Dios, Mary. You will be always in our thoughts.