Smokies wildlife photographer explains seeing the elk in Townsend

It’s been the talk of Townsend all day, everyone asking, ‘did you see the elk?’ Two elk appear to have left the gang in western North Carolina and migrated to the area.

(TOWNSEND, Tenn.) SMOKIES.LIVE – Two elk have appeared in the Townsend area the past few days and that has locals and visitors all hoping to get a personal glimpse and photo for themselves.

Some are wondering if the two will stay or migrate back this fall.

Local Smoky Mountain Wildlife Photographer, Barry Spruce, captured the elk on Monday near the Townsend Wye. He said he heard from a friend they were in the area and went to see for himself.

“Everyone, I talked to said they didn’t know where they went. So, my idea first was to look in the rivers in the creeks cause the Townsend Wye there are three different water sources. So, you got Little River Middle Prong coming in and Laurel Creek so I went up the beginning of each of those and didn’t find them anywhere,” said Spruce.

Spruce said in his experience the elk like flatter surfaces and to not be disturbed when they are resting. Then, he got lucky.

“My experience just told me well, they’re probably laying down because of the time of day so I started walking in the woods I parked and walk the woods and I found him laying down,” he added.

What surprised him to learn, is they were cows. The females this time made the trip from Cherokee. In the past males had been the ones out exploring.

“That they were cows too cause usually we have some young bulls come over and they stay for the summer and then usually migrate back to the Oconaluftee herd,” he said.

The park staff he spoke too was also excited. Some believe this could be the first expansion of the herd out of North Carolina and into Tennessee.

“Maybe it’s an expansion of their territory and perhaps you know some others will follow suit and maybe this time they won’t just migrate back like they have in the past,” added Spruce.

Spruce also takes visitors on guided tours to capture the photography moments many are looking for but may never find on their own.