(MAGGIE VALLEY, N.C.) SMOKIES.LIVE -Leaders in Maggie Valley are reminding people that Elk are dangerous and it is common to see elk walking around town.
In Maggie Valley you must stay 150 feet from the Elk. The town reminds folks that the elk may appear like they are willing to accept you, but they can become defensive at a moment’s notice.
The bottom line, take pictures at a distance and do not try to feed the elk.
They can run up to 45 mph so, you can’t outrun them.
Beginning in 2001, elk were reintroduced to the region through a collaborative effort led by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with support from partners including the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. The animals, primarily the subspecies known as Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus canadensis nelsoni), were relocated from western states and released into Cataloochee Valley in Haywood County, North Carolina.
Since then, the herd has grown steadily. Today, more than 200 elk inhabit the park and surrounding landscapes in western North Carolina. Visitors to areas like Cataloochee Valley and Oconaluftee Valley may catch a glimpse of these iconic animals grazing in open fields or moving through forested ridges – especially during the fall rut.
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