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Show ELK swim Seven Miles on Bear Lake The onenine weekend of the - t o general deer hunt is somewhat of a phenomena in itself, but this year the Oct. 23 weekend in-.. eluded a herd of swimmine elk. Division of Wildlife Resources Fisheries biologist Bryce Nielson, works at Bear Lake in northern Utah. He reports that on Oct. 24 a small group of elk, consisting of 17 cows and calves, were caught near the edge of the lake, their return path to the mountains blocked off by the highway. They took to the water which was apparently their only avenue of , escape. Long Swim All 17 animals, led by what appeared to be a "herd cow," entered the lake one-half mile east of Gus Rich point and touched land again three and one-half hours later on South Eden point. The total distance swam by the normally landlocked land-locked animals was six and one-half one-half to seven miles. During the three and one-half hours they were in the water, Nielson kept a close eye on the small herd. He reported that the lead cow kept herd on the group like a sheepherder, slowing up when members of the group began to straggle, swimming back to round up animals that were beginning to separate from the herd. The elk could be heard whistling to each other during the entire trip across the lake. Bedded Down The elk bedded down for the night on Sout Eden point with a herd of cows. Nielson kept watch on the herd until dark, expecting them to move into the hills after dark. Late the next afternoon (Oct. 25), while checking a fisherman's fisher-man's license, Nielson saw the herd of elk swimming back across the lake to the side from which they originally departed. The group, as a whole, made the return trip safely; but two elk (a calf and a cow) were missing, evidently drowned. Local residents indicated that they had never before seen such an event. Nielson mentioned that looking at the small herd of elk in the middle of the lake made him and other residents think about the legend of the Bear Lake monster. Could it be that we have solved another mystery? |
