With the September peak of Pennsylvania’s elk rut right around the corner, you can get a jumpstart on viewing some of those bugling bulls through the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Elk Cam, which launched today.

The cam is located in the heart of Pennsylvania’s elk range, an area totaling over 220,000 acres including State Game Lands 311 and Elk State Forest. Video and sound from the camera will be livestreamed at www.pa.gov/pgc and viewers can expect not only to see elk, but turkeys, deer and other wildlife, as well. Elk, which in the coming weeks will ramp up activity – with bulls becoming more vocal and competing with one another for available cows – always seem to take center stage, however. Enjoying the show is just a few clicks away.

“Pennsylvania’s elk herd connects people, from throughout the country, in person or online to these iconic animals of the North American wilderness,” said Jason Beale, Game Commission Division Chief for Conservation Education and Social Science. “Their presence in Pennsylvania attests to the often-unseen work of the Game Commission’s biologists, habitat managers, and Game Wardens. It also showcases the critical partnerships with other state agencies and private organizations needed to maintain habitat and promote ‘ELK SMART’ behaviors to the thousands of annual visitors.”

The livestream is provided by HDOnTap and made possible with the help of the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission.

“HDOnTap is very excited to partner with the Game Commission for another year of wildlife viewing on the live cam in elk country,” said Tim Sears, the founder of HDOnTap. “Year after year, the Elk Cam is livestreamed to more than 1 million screens nationwide. This live cam’s allure lies in its unpredictability, showcasing the wildlife of Pennsylvania during daylight and nighttime with infrared.”

The Elk Cam is slated to run until the end of the bugling season, likely sometime in mid-October. The top time to see elk on camera is late in the afternoon.

The stream can be accessed on the Game Commission website at https://www.pa.gov/agencies/pgc/wildlife/wildlife-viewing/wildlife-cams.

VISITORS ENCOURAGED TO BE ‘ELK SMART’

While those viewing the Elk Cam need not worry about getting too close to elk or potentially compromising their wild qualities, things are different when viewing elk in person.

Wildlife is best appreciated from a comfortable distance, and those enjoying Pennsylvania’s elk country should do their part to preserve the wild nature of the herd.

“ELK SMART” provides four simple, effective ways to ensure a wild elk herd for generations to come.

• Give elk space – Keep a distance of at least 100 yards between you and the elk. Never approach them. Elk are wild animals that are unpredictable and sometimes aggressive, especially during the fall breeding season. Cows are also known to defend their young when they feel threatened.
• Never feed elk – Not only is it illegal to feed elk in Pennsylvania, but it teaches them to associate people, cars and/or homes with food. This could cause them to approach people looking for more. Feeding also promotes the spread of infectious diseases by having them unnaturally congregate into small areas.
• Don’t name elk – Characterizing elk, or any wildlife, by naming them degrades their wild essence. The very reason people are drawn to the elk is their unaltered independence from humans. Personifying elk as humans takes away from their truly wild nature.
• Do your part – The welfare of the elk herd is a shared responsibility. If you see someone being disruptive or careless, whether intentional or not, kindly ask them to stop or report it to the Pennsylvania Game Commission by calling 1-833-PGC-WILD. We all have a duty to ensure the safety of people and the long-term welfare of the elk.