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‘It was pretty amazing’: Video captures two elk rutting on Vancouver Island roadway
Bell posted the clip to Facebook, where it drew 1,200 views since Monday, as the elk rut runs from late August to mid-October.
At 3:15 a.m. on Monday, Port Hardy resident Louise Bell captured footage of two bull elk locking antlers on Highway 19 near Port McNeill, illuminating the battle with her vehicle's headlights.
According to the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation, the elk rut is an annual mating season running from late summer to mid-Oct when increased testosterone causes male elk to spar for dominance.
Bell, who had seen elk previously, noted this behavior was unique. She safely pulled over with her girlfriend to record the interaction while maintaining distance from the sparring animals.
As of mid-Oct, the video Bell posted to Facebook has garnered over 1,200 views, 366 reactions, and 112 shares, with her dog audible growling in the background.
Roosevelt elk on Vancouver Island are primarily found on the northern part of the Island, with additional populations inhabiting areas around Cowichan Lake and Strathcona Provincial Park.