HeB次元官网网址檚 sporting a tarp, an innertube, and windchimes now but heB次元官网网址檚 the same frisky fellow from last year.

Cowichan LakeB次元官网网址檚 famous bull elk, formerly known as Line Dancer for his amazing head gear, has returned with a new collection for fall 2017, according to Denis Martel of Wilderness Watch.

Now, heB次元官网网址檚 being called Tuber by folks whoB次元官网网址檝e seen him.

B次元官网网址淲e saw him yesterday [Sept. 20]. We were so fortunate to see him with his harem. HeB次元官网网址檚 doing quite well. And he does have an adornment of articles on his antlers. HeB次元官网网址檚 got what looks like an innertube up there, heB次元官网网址檚 also got a tarp that heB次元官网网址檚 run into, and heB次元官网网址檚 also got some windchimes at last count. HeB次元官网网址檚 into everything. ItB次元官网网址檚 amazing what they do,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淢y granddaughter videotaped another bull while they were out camping and that bull was flipping logs around because he was feeling his oats.B次元官网网址�

Because the elk are in their rutting season right now, they are edgy and willing to fight to preserve their territory and harem of cows so donB次元官网网址檛 try to get close to a bull.

B次元官网网址淭hey can move faster than you can. YouB次元官网网址檇 have to get out of the bush, then get around your truck, and then get in. HeB次元官网网址檚 got you before you even get there,B次元官网网址� Martel said.

But Tuber, despite his new look, is apparently in good shape.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 out there. When we saw him, he had four to six cows with him, that heB次元官网网址檚 gathered together as his harem.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 not in any danger at all. HeB次元官网网址檚 eating well. When we saw him, heB次元官网网址檇 just finished eating and was bedding down and was chewing his cud. He saw us and wasnB次元官网网址檛 panicked because we were no threat. I forgot my bugle so I had whacked a stump. Then he stood up. It is the same one we had last year.B次元官网网址�

Tranquilizing this elk is not an option, according to Martel.

B次元官网网址淭his guy already had a yellow tag in him; heB次元官网网址檚 already been tranquilized once. HeB次元官网网址檚 in no big danger; that stuff is not impeding his vision or his ability to eat or to walk, so those three things mean that he doesnB次元官网网址檛 have to be tranquilized.B次元官网网址�

And at this time of year, thatB次元官网网址檚 important.

B次元官网网址淚f you dart him now, with the stress that heB次元官网网址檚 under because of the rut, because heB次元官网网址檚 24 hours a day on alert, fighting and whatever else heB次元官网网址檚 done, you may find yourself with a dead elk. He may not revive himself. If you give them a tranquilizing dart, sometimes theyB次元官网网址檙e so down they just canB次元官网网址檛 come back.B次元官网网址�

Martel said that years back he saw that happen when a conservation officer from Nanaimo had to dart a bull elk.

B次元官网网址淗e [the conservation officer] cupped his hands right over top of the elkB次元官网网址檚 nose and was giving him nose-to-mouth resuscitation. He tried and tried and tried but, no way, he was gone. It was so sad. We had to do it because he was all hooked up. He would have died from starvation had we not freed him. He had been tromping through peopleB次元官网网址檚 yards and whatever.B次元官网网址�

Martel urged anyone living in an area where elk might pass by to clean up obstacles from your yard.

B次元官网网址淚f youB次元官网网址檝e got garden meshes that are still up, or tennis or badminton nets, tubes on the beach or anything like that that they can run into at night, please put them away,B次元官网网址� he said.

Martel said heB次元官网网址檇 seen one Youbou homeowner who had a tennis net across their driveway all summer to keep people from coming through.

B次元官网网址淚 mentioned it to [conservation officer Sgt.] Scott Norris and he said heB次元官网网址檇 talk to the people. I went by there this week and it was gone. That was so nice of those people. If there are people out there who have done this, I thank them from the bottom of my heart because it means one less elk thatB次元官网网址檚 susceptible to having traumatic problems through the rut,B次元官网网址� he said.