Elk Meadow Exhibit

Near the Trillium Creek Family Farm, you arrive at Elk Meadow, its grassy slopes dotted with Douglas firs. Here you can watch what Native Americans call the wapiti, and learn how important elk are to the Pacific Northwest.

Animals

Named after President Theodore Roosevelt, a man instrumental in saving them, the proud Roosevelt elk wander the meadow. You may see a male sporting an impressive rack of antlers, which falls off in March and is regrown each year. Grey wolves, once an important character in the Great Northwest ecosystem, have virtually vanished in this region. They have returned in places such as Montana and Idaho, and will most likely be back in Oregon in the near future.

Features

From a large, covered, raised platform, you get a clear view of Elk Meadow and its inhabitants, as elk wander slopes overgrown with native plants. Their home also includes a bull run (for when the males are in rut) and a barn and paddock.

The front of the exhibit is home to the wolves, where the terrain features natural contours that slope from a shady spot downhill up to a sunny knoll. Boulders and mounds create places for the wolves to explore and climb for better vantage points, as well as spaces where keepers can stash food and treats. A rock “tunnel” den in one of the mounds gives the wolves a place to seek cover while still on view to the public.

Art Projects

Before entering the covered viewing area, look for a wood depiction of the wapiti to get a feel for the elk's importance. Informative and decorative, elk antlers line the viewing structure's walls, showing the size of antlers from elk ages 3 to 15 years.