The Tule Elk is a small subspecies of elk endemic to California that was reduced to a single herd of fewer than 30 animals in the 1870s before protective measures saved it from extinction. It has since recovered to several thousand individuals in protected reserves and on public lands. Tule elk are smaller than Rocky Mountain elk and were historically associated with the vast tule marshes and grasslands of the Central Valley.
Best time to see a Tule Elk
The best time to see a Tule Elk is August–February, when about 62% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 3,993 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
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Recent Tule Elk sightings near you
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