Is this a Guinness World Record for most elk gathered in one place at once?
I’m not exactly sure that’s even a category in the world record books, but if it was… this herd would certainly be in the running. This beautiful footage is out of Jackson, Wyoming, which is home to the National Elk Refuge. The 24,7000 acre plot is dedicated to the conservation of native species and the habitat they call home, so it’s no surprise that wild animals like to frolic and play in the area.
Just in case you didn’t know, elk can actually move fairly quickly. They are known to run up to 40 miles per hour, and it’s truly a sight to see one run with their engine wide open, so to speak. This large, never-ending grouping was moving at more of a trot than a sprint, so there’s no showcase of speed in this clip.
That being said, it’s still an impressive scene.
When you watch the footage below, you’ll probably ask yourself, “That sure seems like a lot of elk in one place, right?” You’re right to wonder that, and let’s just say that a not out of the ordinary. Herds have been known to be made up by around 400 elk, and the grouping can get even bigger during the summer months. Feel free to take the time to count how many elk were a part of this grouping and get back to me… but I think it’s safe to estimate that this herd far exceeded that 400 number.
In fact, this might be the largest herd of elk I’ve ever seen. Math has never been my strongest subject, but I can comfortably say that this grouping of elk (which can also be referred to as a “gang,” believe it or not) is in the thousands. Could it surpass 5,000? Or maybe even push the 10,000 number? Well… once I get enough free time to get an official head count, I’ll come back and update this story.
If you really wanted to, you could travel to Jackson, Wyoming and do a head count yourself. The National Elk Refuge offers sleigh rides from December through April. It’s actually the “National Elk Refuge Sleigh Rides” account that posted this video. Seems like it would be a really cool opportunity to go and experience, especially if you were looking to see a mass of elk out in the wild.
Until the day that I actually get out there, I’ll just have to make do with this footage that’s getting a lot of attention online. I’ll give them some credit for improving on their song choice for the video (the last one they posted had DJ Snake and Lil Jon’s “Turn Down For What” overlaid on top of the majestic footage). I’d still prefer to just watch thousands of elk stampede together across the beautiful Wyoming landscape and hear the natural sound that comes with it.
But if you are going to use a song, and the video features an endless amount of female elk, Shania Twain’s “Man! I Feel Like A Woman!” makes sense:
