As the sun set amidst a wash of pink and gray clouds, distant lightning danced across the green-carpeted mountains. A herd of 45 elk grazed in the lush field before us, their reddish coats contrasting with the bright yellow of the wild mustard flowers. Hushed voices pointed out the bulls with the big antlers in velvet, and the many cow elk ready to give birth to their calves.
While this scene is more-expected in Wyoming or Montana, our group from Delaware Nature Society experienced this sight just 225 miles from the First State. The Pennsylvania Wilds in north-central PA is home to the largest herd of elk in the East, and the scenery there is quite reminiscent of Western landscapes. Wide-open vistas, iconic wildlife, and stunning scenery abound.
via Splendor in the Pennsylvania Wilds | The Nature of Delaware.