Wild About The Gap – Wildlife Wednesday

A Moment With an Elk I’ll Never Forget

One of my all-time favorite places to wander is a good zoo. I know there’s a divide when it comes to animals in captivity—and I understand it. In a perfect world, every creature would roam free across wild landscapes without fences or boundaries. But our world isn’t perfect, and sometimes a zoo is the only safe haven a species has left. Sometimes, it’s the only way we’re able to see animals that no longer exist in the wild. And sometimes… it’s where unforgettable connections happen.

That brings us to today’s Wildlife Wednesday.

Last weekend, during our travels, my husband and I met the most breathtaking elk. Massive, regal, and gentle-eyed, he carried himself like the quiet king of his space. We approached expecting curiosity—but what we didn’t expect was how deeply he looked back at us, as though he were studying us just as much as we were admiring him.

We spent more time with him than we meant to, just soaking in the moment—his soft snorts, the way his ears flicked toward every sound, the calm strength in his posture. And then, out of nowhere, he leaned in and licked my husband like a little puppy. We both burst out laughing, surprised and absolutely charmed. It’s not every day you get puppy kisses from an elk!

And the hardest part? Saying goodbye.

As we walked away, he watched us with that quiet, sad stare that tugs at your heart—the kind that makes you want to turn around and stay just a little longer. If I could’ve brought him home with me, I honestly would have. But since I couldn’t, these words—and the photos we captured—will have to hold onto that memory for us.

Some wildlife encounters stay with you long after the moment ends.

This one certainly will.

Here’s to the magic of meeting animals, wherever that happens—wild or sheltered—and to appreciating the beauty they bring into our lives.

-Mary