31 Elk Fall Through Ice and Drown

[MikePal]

These wonky winters sure can be hard on these animals, terrible loss.

Last month at least 31 cow and calf elk washed up in a small cove where the Snake River forms the Palisade Reservoir along the Wyoming/Idaho border. The herd had been regularly crossing the frozen river for weeks to graze on the newly uncovered foliage along the river banks.

But on March 21 they crashed through the ice en masse in the middle of the river and were swept under by the swift currents. Their combined weight—estimated at more than 18,000 pounds—was just too much for the thinning ice to support, and the otherwise healthy elk drowned.

http://www.outdoorlife.com/articles/...wn-snake-river

[Muskyhunter]

That is really sad. Life is really tough in the wilds.

[Hunter John]

That's a shame for sure but it will feed many other hungry critters.

[KMG Canada]

Nature can be very cruel ...

[GrizzlyAdams]

That sucks elk are awesome animals. Im sure somebody already got the teeth out of them. Shame that winter can be so harsh.