18th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
A cow elk nurse her calf

I was at Oconaluftee Visitor Center in Great Smoky National Park to photograph the elk. It was so sweet to see this mother nursing her calf with the bull elk there with them. It was late afternoon when this photo was taken, and parked on the side of the road along with several cars. The elk didn't seem to mind us watching them.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 10.2020
Date Uploaded: 10.2020
Photo Location: Chorkee, North Carolina, United States of America
Camera: NIKON D7500
Copyright: © Zelma Covington