     Wind Cave National Park begins its annual series of Ranger-led programs and tours listening for the bugle of the Rocky Mountain Elk tonight.
Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday evenings through early October will see Wind Cave rangers meet the public in front of the Visitor Center at 7:00, give a brief interpretive program, then lead a caravan to a nearby pullout to listen for the elk.
Wind Cave Chief of Interpretation Tom Farrell says the elk’s high-pitched whistle heralds the arrival of fall and the elk mating season with the ranger programs an easy way for the average person to experience it.
Farrell recommends dressing warmly, bringing a flashlight, and carrying either a camp chair or blanket to sit on..
He also says listening for bugling elk is something that visitors can do on their own as well, with evening or early morning hours the best.
He recommends listening at pullouts along Hwy 87 instead of Hwy 385 because there’s usually less traffic noise.
To hear what an elk bugle sounds like, go to the Wind Cave portion of the National Park Service website www.nps.gov/thingstodo/elk-bugling-wica.htm.