Utah State Animal: Elk

State Animals 1 Minute

The elk is the second-largest species of deer in the world (only the moose is larger). It is found in forest, shrubland and grassland habitats in North America and eastern Asia. Bull elk are characterized by their impressive, branched antlers and loud “bugling” cries, which can be heard during the fall mating season.

Elk are thought to have evolved about 20 million years ago in the steppe regions of Beringia, a mass of land that once stretched between Siberia in northeastern Asia and Alaska in northwestern North America.

Today, the total elk population numbers around two million individuals, and is thought to be increasing. The species’ conservation rating is “Least Concern”.

Elk are large ungulates (hoofed mammals) with dark reddish-brown coats and pale patches on their rumps.

The color and thickness of an elk’s coat changes with the season; in winter it becomes thick and greyish, whereas in summer it is thinner, shorter and darker in color.

In winter both male and female elk develop a mane of dark hair around their necks.

Elk or Wapiti?

The elk is also known as the wapiti. The name wapiti comes from Shawnee and Cree word “wapiti”, which refers to the elk’s white rump.

Elk Antlers

Male elk develop large, branched antlers during the spring. When the antlers are fully developed, they may weigh as much as 40 lb. As is the case with most deer species, female elk do not grow antlers.  The bull elk’s antlers are used to attract females and to fight off rival males and predators. The antlers have a central core of bone and, while growing, are covered with a layer of skin known as velvet, which is richly supplied with blood vessels.

The velvet is rubbed off once the antlers are fully developed. When the mating season is over, the antlers are shed; a new pair will begin to grow at the start of the next spring.

Elk Bugling

During the rut (mating season), bull elk emit characteristic, high-pitched screaming calls. This behavior is known as “bugling”. These extremely loud and penetrating calls can be heard from several miles away.

SOURCE: ACTIVEWILD.COM

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Published by pat frederick

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74 thoughts on “Utah State Animal: Elk”

  1. Good Morning All!

    dark. that’s our sky this morning…lol

    is it cold? is it hot? who cares…it feels like the dead of winter…LOL

    not that it’s so cold, but it’s soo dark. heck it wasn’t that long ago it was light outside at 5 am…here it is 6:40 and it’s still too dark to see anything.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Good morning. It will be better once we change the clocks back…for a little while maybe? Still dark here, too w/temp @ 45, partly cloudy from what I can see. If you’re looking for GA, she may be at CTH or on Sylvia’s blog…..

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Good Morning Filly!
        I haven’t seen her on cth yet–I know her name there. and I’m not sure i want to go to sylvia’s blog–but maybe i might.
        it’s raining here now…a good steady rain but not a downpour.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. I just scanned the last 2 days @ S’s – no sign of her there either. Hmmmm…..I’ll text Marica and see if she has an e-mail for her…..

          Liked by 1 person

  4. Liked by 1 person

  5. Just The News: “After two years of war prompted by its Oct. 7 massacre, Hamas freed all remaining living hostages on Monday as President Donald Trump arrived in Israel to celebrate the peace deal he brokered that could reshape the Middle East.

    Israel confirmed the safe return of 20 hostages and reciprocated by freeing nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in an exchange that was a key benchmark of the deal brokered by Trump and his team last week.

    Trump arrived in Israel and was greeted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and headed  immediately to the Knesset to address Israel’s political leadership. He also met with families of the hostages.

    “Mr. President, I would like to thank you that you granted the Knesset the honor that it is the first parliament you are visiting in your present term,” Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana said as he greeted the American president.

    Trump was prepared to tell lawmakers that Israel’s military achieved what it needed to, but must now transition to finding a permanent solution to the strife in Gaza.

    “Israel has won all that can be won by force of arms” and “it is time to translate these victories against terrorists on the battlefield into the ultimate prize of peace and prosperity,” he was quoted as saying in excerpts.

    Trump was slated to travel to Egypt later Monday for a conference hosted by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and other Middle East leaders to press ahead on further details of peace, including how to rebuild a post-Hamas Gaza strip and who will govern it.

    Egypt confirmed that Palestinian Authority President Mahmmoud Abbas would attend the conference, where the peace plan also is expected to be signed.”

    Liked by 1 person

  6. EXCERPT: “After a joint operation by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) found “mass patterns” of marriage and other immigration fraud in Minneapolis, the agency’s director says denaturalization and prosecutions are on the table. 

    Operation Twin Shield, which was conducted by USCIS in coordination with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the FBI in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, flagged over 1,000 cases suspected of involving “fraud or ineligibility indicators,” the agency shared in an after-action announcement. 

    The agency reviewed applications for immigration benefits, including marriage and family-based petitions, employment authorizations, and certain parole-related requests, the agency said. Of the cases reviewed, the agency found “evidence of fraud, non-compliance, or public safety or national security concerns” in 275 cases.

    Widespread fraud in immigration landscape

    “So we went, and our plan was to start getting some resources together to go after marriage fraud. What we did over the course of about two weeks—it was a joint operation with us and ICE, CBP, DEA, FBI, all were involved—we were able to find mass patterns of not only marriage fraud, naturalization fraud, we found fraud within the OPT, the optional practical training process, [and] we found it within H-1Bs,” USCIS Director Joseph Edlow told the “Just the News, No Noise” TV show. 

    “Now we’re taking all that information back. We’re going through it, seeing what applications need to be reopened, what benefits need to be denied. And I’m working with the US Attorney out there to start sending a couple cases for prosecution, hopefully, many cases for prosecution,” Edlow added. 

    The director said that a denaturalization process is possible for certain cases if they meet the criteria. 

    “[We] do have processes both for civil and criminal denaturalization. It’s something that’s on the books, so we can do it. There are some criteria that have to be met in terms of what was the fraud? Was the fraud part of their scheme to ultimately get naturalization? Was it committed before or after they got naturalization? So there’s a lot of different factors that play a role here,” said Edlow. 

    Denaturalization requires Federal court authorization

    “But, nothing is off the table right now. And for any case where we have found fraud indicators, we are looking at what applications need to be either denied or reopened and re-examined, and what ultimately needs to be prosecuted, including denaturalization, if appropriate,” the director continued. 

    Federal law provides that denaturalization can only result from a court order in either a civil proceeding or after a criminal conviction. According to the USCIS, denaturalization requires a high burden of proof. For a civil revocation, “the burden of proof is clear, convincing, and unequivocal evidence which does not leave the issue in doubt.” For a criminal revocation, “the burden of proof is the same as for every other criminal case, proof beyond a reasonable doubt.” 

    The agency refers cases for revocation of naturalization if there is sufficient evidence for one of two grounds for the revocation: “illegal procurement of naturalization” or “concealment of a material fact or willful misrepresentation.” 

    Operation Twin Shield was carried out in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region of Minnesota from Sept. 19 to Sept. 28 targeting those 1,000 cases the USCIS had identified as bearing the markers of possible fraud. During that time, agents with USCIS and its partners conducted “more than 900” site visits and in-person interviews……”

    https://justthenews.com/government/courts-law/agency-exploring-denaturalization-prosecution-mass-patterns-immigration-fraud

    Liked by 1 person

    1. they”lost track of them” is a LIE imo. they don’t want people to know how they tortured or murdered them imo.
      and I think they might have killed more recently and autopsies would show that also.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. “Trump Is The Best Statesman Of Our Time Because He’s A Realist — If we are to properly set the conditions for a civilizational rebirth, we must accept that realistic rhetoric is the statecraft needed for renewal.”

    The Federalist, By: Kristen Ziccarelli and Joshua Treviño, October 13, 2025

    Trump speaks at UN

    EXCERPT: “Last week, President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas had signed off on the first phase of his Gaza peace plan — one of the most significant diplomatic breakthroughs in the Middle East in years. For our nation and the world, this was a moment of rare convergence, of both clarity and action.

    While much of the world has grown accustomed to the language of stalemate and moral equivocation, Trump’s foreign policy achievements underscore a deeper principle that realism and prudence are themselves instruments of peace. His most recent address to the United Nations General Assembly reflected the same conviction. It was not the speech of a diplomat pandering to anyone, but of a statesman determined to reassert that truth-telling is the first act of order.

    Instead of masking hard truths in euphemisms, Trump offered a direct summons — that candid, realistic assessments of the world must precede our return to civilizational greatness. His address exemplified the essence of statecraft: speaking what we know is true (what many dare not say) and turning uncomfortable realities into a foundation for decisive action. In Trump’s realism, the statesman’s first task is not to flatter but to prepare, not to admire decline but to arrest it.

    More than once in his speech, Trump bluntly invoked the mass migration and energy crises of the West, telling Europe, “You’re destroying your heritage,” and plainly warning, “Your countries are going to hell.” Here, the president deliberately bound truth-telling to deterrence because, following that up, he addressed the cartels, saying, “We will blow you out of existence.” 

    Far from just rhetoric, his words are a testament to the civic habits needed to preserve the West: fidelity to inheritance and the sacrificial courage to act on hard truths. This is about the art of rhetoric and even statecraft in a fallen world. There will always be evil, wrongs, and harsh realities to speak about. Statecraft is not about crafting the perfect phrase to win applause in a chamber of diplomats, but about shaping incentives, deterring aggression, and, especially now, safeguarding a people’s inheritance. President Trump understands that the U.N. stage is the opportune moment to state a realistic assessment of decay while summoning the resolve for repair…..”

    https://thefederalist.com/2025/10/13/trump-is-the-best-statesman-of-our-time-because-hes-a-realist/

    Liked by 1 person

  11. “The Deep State are now EXTREMELY Vulnerable”

    Clandestine, Oct 13, 2025

    “Trump bringing peace to the Middle East is important not just for the reasons of stopping violence, but because the Deep State are now EXTREMELY vulnerable.

    Now when Trump invokes the Insurrection Act, the Left’s cries of “Hitler” and “dictatorship” will fall on deaf ears.

    The Dems/MSM are permanently discredited. They just spent the last 10 years trying to destroy the man who just did the impossible and brought peace to the Middle East. So not only is their entire narrative completely up in flames, now the public will agree with Trump that the Dems/MSM are a detriment to this country and the world.

    They literally tried to kill the guy who is bringing world peace. That makes them an enemy of all humanity.

    The stars are aligning here. Trump has the optics and the political ammunition to drop the hammer, and his position will only improve once he stops the war in Ukraine.

    As I have said from the beginning, strategically speaking, it makes the most sense to wait for high-profile arrests until AFTER the peace deals are finalized when Trump is at his highest approval.

    We are getting close.”

    Liked by 1 person

  12. “The Narrative Episode 42 – Info War Posture: Peace Through Strength. Unity Through Division?”

    Burning Bright, Oct 13, 2025

    “Bright Army!

    We’re back with another episode of The Narrative that is sure to make zero people upset in any way at all!

    But in all seriousness, the general theme of this week’s episode was all about Unity … or Division … or … are those two things actually as different as we’ve been led to believe?

    First-time guest and fellow Badlander Shipwreck joined me for a lively (and NOT cuss-proof) discussion on everything from the Hegelian engineering responsible for the Womens’ Empowerment movement to Government Shutdowns and the mindset required to be the right kind of crazy in the Info War.

    After Ship bowed out, I also did a little solo section on Donald Trump’s Kayfabian Chaos with Xi Jinping and talked about a particular passage from the original Info War stalwart … Jesus Christ.

    Enjoy!”

    https://burningbright.substack.com/p/the-narrative-episode-42-info-war

    Liked by 1 person

  14. “You almost can’t imagine the brutish hell these 20 people have been through in the last 370 days. It must make the haters angry at themselves knowing that is was only  through the intervention and guidance of the Trump Administration has been able to (hopefully) end or prevent yet another war not of our own making.”

    “It’s funny. We always called ’em Canadian Geese when we were kids. Anyway, how many times have you wanted to shoot one of these crap machines? Well, in some eastern states you now can. See, it’s been illegal pretty much everywhere to kill any migratory birds. But now authorities realize these fat lazy shit producers don’t leave in the winter, so they took ’em off the migratory list and now you can pop away at the little fat fuckers. Check your locals laws first – don’t go on what you read on some blog somewhere…”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. what a lovely story about the mom and her ashes!

      as soon as as I hear canadian geese flying over to our pond, I hit the stairs with my broom in my hand yelling and waving said broom. I don’t even let them land.

      Liked by 1 person

  15. “Antarctica has experienced a surprising change, gaining over 100 billion tonnes of ice in just one year. This is an unexpected increase, especially since scientists have not seen such a rise in many years. The ice addition has taken many experts by surprise, leaving them to wonder what is causing this unusual event.

    Scientists typically observe Antarctica losing ice due to climate change and rising temperatures. However, this sudden gain of ice raises questions about what might be happening in the region. Experts are now trying to figure out the reasons behind this increase and what it could mean for the future of the planet. 

    The situation in Antarctica is important because it affects global sea levels and our understanding of climate systems. This unexpected development could have significant implications for the environment and weather patterns. As researchers work to uncover the clues, the world is watching closely to learn more about what this ice gain might reveal about climate change and the health of our planet. (From Amazing World on Facebook).”

    Liked by 1 person

  16. “While not a trained engineer or mathematician, Hedy Lamarr was an ingenious problem-solver. Most of her inventions were practical solutions to everyday problems, like a tissue box attachment for depositing used tissues or a glow-in-the-dark dog collar.

    It was during World War II, that she developed “frequency hopping,” an invention that’s now recognized as a fundamental technology for secure communications. She didn’t receive credit for the innovation until very late in life.

    Most of Hedy’s work was done at home at her engineering table where she’d sketch designs for creative solutions to practical problems. In addition to the tissue box attachment and the light-up dog collar, Hedy devised a special shower seat for the elderly that swiveled safely out of a bathtub.”

    Liked by 1 person

  17. “The majority of the protestors probably couldn’t point to ‘Palestine’ on a world map if they tried. As it is, I think it’s more self-recognized than it is an actual ‘country.’ It’s described as ‘Palestine, officially the State of Palestine, is in West Asia. It encompasses the Israeli-occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, collectively known as the Palestinian territories.’

    Anyway, I digress. Here we are again with the same questions. Are these people truly concerned for Palestinians or are they just anti-semites? Are they doing it out of a genuine love for the people of Palestine they don’t even know, or did somebody pay them to be there? 

    Inquiring minds don’t want to know because we don’t give a shit what you want and don’t want. We want you to shut the fuck up and go home. Capeesh?”

    Liked by 1 person

  18. “The band was formed in Birmingham, England, in 1964. The original lineup included Denny Laine, Ray Thomas, Clint Warwick, Mike Pinder, and Graeme Edge. 

    The band initially gained fame with their hit single “Go Now” in late 1964. After a change in members in 1966, the band’s sound shifted towards psychedelic and progressive rock. They are known for their landmark album Days of Future Passed (1967), which is considered one of the first successful concept albums. 

    John Lodge, long time bassist and singer for the band died on Friday at the age of 82.”

    Mine does!!! I’m a luddite at heart!!!

    Liked by 1 person

  20. “Wayward cow causes miles-long backup on Pennsylvania highway”

    Not The Bee, Harambe Harambe, Oct 12, 2025

    Image for article: Wayward cow causes miles-long backup on Pennsylvania highway

    ENTIRE ARTICLE: “Reflecting on the dismal state of the modern commute, Rodney Atkins once sang: “If I’m gonna hit a traffic jam, well it better be a tractor man.” I can’t say for sure, but I assume a cow may also qualify.

    Local news reports:

    A cow was rescued from the median of I-79 near Cranberry Township in Butler County Wednesday morning. …

    Traffic was backed up for about two miles approaching the area while police remained at the scene.

    No doubt, it was a good old-fashioned bumper-to-bumper jam:

    Now, of course the one big question you probably have is: Whose cow was it? It had to have belonged to somebody. Authorities, however, apparently couldn’t track the owner down. “We do not have owner information or know where the cow came from. Local farmers confirmed it does not belong to them,” state police told media.How does a cow just turn up on the highway with no trace?

    Thankfully, local farrier Kyle Carson happened to see the report on the news, and he came quite literally riding to the rescue:

    ‘I decided this morning before I was going to go to work … I was like, well, I might call and just see if they need a hand,’ Carson said. ‘The crews there had traffic stopped, and we sat there for a little bit and just kind of assessed the situation and let the cow relax a little more and just hang out. And then I just rode right up here and roped her and then took her over to the trailer.’

    Here’s the hero of the hour, on a horse named, appropriately, “Highway.”

    WTAE

    Authorities were able to get the bovine traffic jammer to safety:

    Glad the cow survived. Maybe it’ll be a tasty hamburger someday soon!”

    Liked by 1 person

  21. Liked by 1 person

  24. 1964 ARCA 250 race at Daytona – Bay Darnell spun and ended up in Lake Lloyd

    August 1940, a Beaufighter bomber was directly hit by a 13mm machine gun bullet on its front glass. The pilot was temporarily blinded by the fragments.

    Liked by 1 person

  25. Meanwhile, In Peru…

    What happens when you Google “Ass Clown”…

    It all says trash in the neighborhood…

    What it’s worth today….

    Liked by 1 person

  29. just got done talking with Mom. She told me about her day and she was a little ticked off that Bingo was canceled yesterday. they look forward to it all week, but no one told them it was canceled–they all just sat at the tables for 20 minutes before someone saw them all and told them.

    and there was excitement today. while we were talking, someone knocked on her door and asked if so and so was in there in her room. She said no, why? The aide explained–we can’t find him–so if you see him, let us know. Mom laughed–they’ll never find him. he knows how to get out. I said what does that mean? she laughed again. He knows where they “hide” the door codes.

    Liked by 1 person

  31. 🏛️ Greece’s Parthenon — Finally Scaffold-Free

    “For the first time in decades, the Parthenon can be seen without scaffolding.
    Hurry, it’s only temporary — like democracy…”

    🌩️ Red Sprites and Andromeda Over Australia

    “October skies turned surreal: red sprites flashing 90 km high while Andromeda shimmered above. Proof that the universe does avant-garde light shows better than Coachella…”

    Liked by 2 people

  34. Jerry called and we discussed the situation with my mower; he believes Troy-Bilt should offer something under warranty and has agreed to be my spokesperson and contact them, as well as the Bomgaars in Creighton. I have no doubt he knows people who work and shop there regularly. He knows the lingo and can discuss what it’s doing with them more in-depth than I can….in any case, we’ve got the winter to get something settled.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Addendum: OK, I talked to Paul @ Bomgaars – I can have Jerry bring the mower in to them any time and they will send it to their Sioux City Center to have it looked at w/no charge for me! He also knows how to disable the sensor in the seat – another hurray! Things look promising finally!!!

      Liked by 1 person

        1. he practically drools. but when i mention looking into buying one or even going to car shows, he shakes his head no. and i get it…our dirt road with the ruts and potholes and our driveway–with the stream–makes it near impossible to keep one nice and still drive it occasionally.

          Liked by 1 person

  37. “The Invisible Battlefield: Understanding Fifth-Generation Warfare”

    Michael T. Flynn LTG USA (RET), Oct 13, 2025

    “Modern warfare has evolved beyond the battlefield. The age of bombs and bullets has given way to a new era, one where the most powerful weapons are ideas, information, and influence. This is Fifth Generation Warfare (5GW): a form of conflict that operates primarily in the cognitive, informational, and social domains. It is a war without declared battlefields, where the enemy often remains unseen, and the targets are minds rather than military positions.

    What Is Fifth-Generation Warfare?

    The concept of Fifth Generation Warfare emerged as analysts attempted to describe the next evolution in human conflict. The first four generations of mass formations (1GW), industrial firepower (2GW), maneuver warfare (3GW), and insurgent or asymmetrical warfare (4GW) were all visible. Each involved identifiable combatants, physical destruction, and defined theaters of operation.

    5GW is different.

    It’s defined not by firepower but by narrative control, psychological manipulation, and data exploitation. It unfolds in the digital environment through social media feeds, news cycles, cultural movements, and artificial intelligence algorithms that shape what populations see, think, and believe. This form of warfare blurs the line between war and peace, soldier and civilian, truth and deception. It’s not fought by armies alone but by governments, corporations, media conglomerates, and even ordinary users behind screens.

    At its heart, 5GW leverages information dominance. Rather than destroying infrastructure, it destabilizes perception. The goal is to make populations willingly participate in their own manipulation.

    Key features include:

    1. Cognitive Warfare – Influencing how people think, not just what they think. The objective is to rewire belief systems and social norms.
    2. Data Weaponization – Using digital footprints, personal information, and predictive analytics to target individuals or groups with precision messaging.
    3. Algorithmic Influence – AI-driven recommendation systems that amplify divisive content, reinforcing ideological silos and weakening social cohesion.
    4. Narrative Engineering – Coordinated efforts to seed or suppress information, often blending truth and falsehood until the difference becomes indistinguishable.
    5. Decentralized Actors – State and non-state participants, NGOs, influencers, and even automated bots acting within a shared digital battlespace.

    5GW succeeds because it exploits the human operating system’s emotion, identity, and belonging. Traditional defenses like armies, borders, and treaties offer no protection against narratives that shape perception. When a person’s worldview can be manipulated, they no longer need to be coerced; they self-direct toward the manipulator’s objectives.

    That is the genius and the danger of Fifth Generation Warfare. Unlike previous wars, 5GW can persist indefinitely, sustained by data collection, social feedback loops, and technological dependence. The weapons are memes and movements. The casualties are trust, unity, and shared reality.

    Fifth-generation warfare is not coming; it’s here. Every screen, every search result, and every viral story is part of an active contest for influence. In this war, awareness is defense, and discernment is armor.”

    Liked by 1 person

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