Tule elk

Tule elk are only found in California and can be viewed from several of Santa Clara County parks. At one point they were believed to be extinct due to pressures like hunting and habitat loss, until a small number were discovered and protected in the 1870’s. Through several reintroduction efforts by the California Academy of Sciences and the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife populations have reached almost 6000 individuals. Tule elk were once the dominate ungulate (hooved mammal) and grazers in California. Grazing from elk may have helped prevent grasslands from transitioning into less diverse scrubland ecosystems.

Today in Santa Clara County, tule elk can be observed in the Diablo Range on the eastern side of the southern Bay Area. Herds move throughout their range depending on the season and how much food and water is available. Elk can be seen in Joseph D. Grant Park, Anderson and Coyote Lake Harvey-Bear, Motorcycle Park and sometimes from Hellyer County Park. As urban development continues to increase, Santa Clara County parks provide critical habitat for this large species.