Conservation Officers Looking for Elk
Tom Keith

Lincoln, Neb.-- A mature bull elk wandering around within the Lincoln city limits Monday morning surprised a number of people during their drive to work.

The elk was originally seen by citizens in the Haymarket Park area just west of Memorial Stadium at the University of Nebraska about 8 a.m. The elk was also seen in the area of 27th and Superior and east near North 48th Street.

Ted Blume, administrator of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s law enforcement division, said by late afternoon conservation officers believe the elk may have headed north along Salt Creek and is attempting to leave the area.

“We ask anyone who may see the elk to leave it alone and keep dogs away and avoid bothering it in any way. We hope it will leave town on its own,” Blume said.

Assistant Commission Director Kirk Nelson said “Public safety is our main concern. Our officers our prepared to tranquilize the elk or to dispatch it to keep it from becoming a traffic hazard or from destroying property, but we’d much prefer that the elk moves out of the area on its own without our interference.

“It’s fall and the elk rut is beginning and that can cause bulls to move into areas that they do not normally frequent,” Nelson said. “We sometimes have deer come into the city and they often become frightened and are injured as they try to escape to more familiar areas. People should realize deer, elk and other animals travel more in the fall than at other times of the year and drive accordingly, both inside and out of the city.”