The first elk came to the district in 1925 from Yellowstone National Park in Montana, according to the forest preserve.
An article in the Feb. 25, 1925, issue of the Cook County Herald recounted the arrival of the elk by train. “Possibly the largest crowd ever assembled watched the unloading of the elk and a much larger crowd watched the opening of each crate.”
The article gives credit to the Cook County commissioners and William Busse for bringing the first herd of 10 elk to the village. Over the years, the elk population has fluctuated, reaching as high as 80.
“Since the ‘80s the herd, at the most, was the in low 30s and now between six and 15,” Anchor said. “Every three to four years, we bring in a new bull so we don’t have inbreeding problems.”
The best time to see the herd is early morning or at dusk, just before closing. The rest of the time the herd sticks to the tree line, though there is a trail that weaves around the back of the enclosure that allows for elk viewing at other times of the day.
Seasonally, there are two periods that Anchor said can be quite entertaining for visitors. Late-May to early-June is calving season. October to mid-November is rutting season, when the males fight over the females.
