During ‘Thicc Elk Fall,’ Bull Elk Fatten up, Pose, and Bugle

There’s a lot of talk about bears lately, since it’s Fat Bear Week, but bull elk are worthy of center stage during the fall season, too. In fact, the Washington State Department of Transportation (DOT) is advocating for celebrating “thicc elk fall,” since, like bears, these magnificent creatures also fatten up during the fall to help them get through the winter season when food is scarce. Plus, they bugle. Apparently, they pose for trail cameras, too.

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The Washington DOT recently posted a video on X showing a large bull elk meandering across a mountain pass. It even seems to pose for the camera, showing off its “thicc”-ness.

“It’s always Fat Bear Week this and Fat Bear Week that. What about Thicc Elk Fall?” writes Washington DOT in its post. “That’s some serious bull elk, recently spotted moving across one of our I-90 wildlife crossing structures to munch on some choice vegetation.”

Watch a “thicc” elk pose here:

That's some serious bull elk, recently spotted moving across one of our I-90 wildlife crossing structures to munch on some choice vegetation – footage courtesy of our friends at @SnoqualmiePass!

— Washington State DOT (@wsdot) October 2, 2024

The National Park Service (NPS) is also posting about elk this fall. In one video, NPS edited an elk’s bulge into a Taylor Swift song, and it’s hilarious.

Check out some prime fall behavior—bugling—here:

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A post shared by National Park Service (@nationalparkservice)

What do you think? Time to celebrate “thicc elk fall” in addition to Fat Bear Week?

Sound on: Elk Bugling Is Other Worldly