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Eulogy for an Elk: Yellowstone’s Number 6
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 06:43PM 
Yellowstone's Infamous Number 6Yellowstone’s Number 6—reigning monarch of the Mammoth elk dating scene—died this week at age fifteen as the result of a freak accident.
His 725 pound body (impressive by elk standards) was found in Gardiner, Montana just outside the north entrance of Yellowstone. Authorities believe he suffocated after tripping over a fence and pinning himself between some rocks.
Number 6 distinguished himself from the herd with his curmudgeonly character and apparent fearlessness. He was known to charge automobiles without hesitation, and the trophy of a car tail light dangled from his antlers one day last fall. Visitors foolish enough to disobey the park’s regulations of keeping a 25-yard boundary soon found themselves confronted with the dangerous reality of a cranky, 700+ pound bull elk. Dedicated park rangers and volunteers patrolled Mammoth during the rut in an effort to keep both the visitors and Number 6 out of trouble.
Number 6 Bugling Away!Like a small town eccentric that everybody loves despite the inconvenience and even the slight danger he poses, Number 6 was much beloved in Mammoth by park employees. With his bravado and confident swagger, he ruled the elk rut in Mammoth, his closest rival being the younger (and less flamboyant) Number 10.
From our office windows this past fall, my co-workers and I followed Number 6’s exploits as he bugled and sparred with Number 10. I often felt like a voyeur, spying on the poor fellas while they competed for each other’s harem—the ungulate version of ‘The Bachelor.’ When I spoke with business associates on the phone, the question would inevitably arise about the loud noise in the background; they always expressed disbelief when I revealed it to be a bugling elk. And in the fall, Number 6 often extended my workday because of his wandering near the office exit and blocking access to my car.
The Next Generation? The King Is Dead, Long Live the KingBeing new to the park, I experienced my first elk rut last year, and I looked forward to following the infamous adventures of Number 6 for many years to come. Bull elk are plentiful in Yellowstone, but few can match Number 6’s singular, ornery character. Number 10 has some rather large shoes (or hooves) to fill next year.
Number 6: I hope in the elk afterlife the rut season is endless, the cows are plentiful, and the wolves scarce.
Number Six's Filmography: Scenes from the Yellowstone Elk Rut
Reader Comments (5)
I can't get over the way his life ended. He was certainly impressive and formidable. The area around the hotel and post office won't be the same.
Not to mention the dating scene! (it won't be the same, that is)
heres some more pics of him taken mostly taken from ny from door
http://brockkuntz.shutterfly.com/.
videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6lg8PBaHwo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D33WV0b3yJo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqkOKDGPV_A
I lived in Gardiner for the last two years before moving back to Washington in Feburary of 2009. I got to see #6 on many occasions. Once after he had a long day of charging cars and vistors, He decided to lay down for some rest right in front of my pickup. I had heard about his day from one of the waitresses at the Mammoth Diner. So my friend and I were very cautious when we came out to my pickup. We were looking all around to make sure we did not have a confrontation with him, and there he was, just Ten feet from the front bumper of my pickup laying down. I was able to get in it and I was sure as soon as I started the engine he would charge. But he didn't. I guess he was just tired for the day, thank God.
My wife and i were in YNP last September and saw No. 6 soon after we drove in the park. Earlier that he'd smashed up the car of a US attorney and had put a big dent in a park ranger's Ford pickup.
I got some really great pictures of the magnificent elk and I was saddened to learn of his death just today, when I saw a tribute to him on another site.
We were quite taken with his majestic demeanor and that he had about 20 cows in his harem. He lived a long life for a bull elk and became world famous. I am really glad that I got to see him before only pictures were left.