Pennsylvania's elk herd is easily one of the state's most attractive natural resources. Each year, the herd draws tens of thousands of visitors into the picturesque Allegheny Mountains. They come to catch their first glimpse of an elk, to watch bulls spar, or to listen for bugles to pierce the still morning air.
Elk are majestic, awesome, and maybe even a little magical.
The animal's sheer size belies its graceful, peaceful and unassuming behavior. The size of an elk commands special consideration, something you really can't appreciate until you see one 20 or 30 yards away. They're not large enough to drive a compact car under, but some may weigh as much as that car and can stop most vehicles in their tracks in a collision. Every year, a few elk are killed on Pennsylvania's highways. Hitting one with a car or truck can be life-threatening to you and the elk.