The Pennsylvania Game Commission has announced that their Elk Cam has started up for the season. Some of our readers may not be familiar with Elk Cam, but it’s a pretty big deal. It’s a live stream from PA’s elk herd that allows the public to passively observe them during the rut, when the bulls are bugling.

Pennsylvania is home to a herd of approximately 1,400 to 1,500 elk. They were reintroduced by the release of 177 animals between 1913 and 1926, and the results are so successful that a few elk can be harvested each year to keep the population in check.

The PA elk are primarily in Elk, Clinton, Cameron, Centre and Clearfield Counties, with the greatest concentration near Benzette, where Elk Cam is located. The population is monitored by annual aerial surveys. There is an Elk Country Visitor Center on Winslow Hill in Benzette.

The Pennsylvania elk herd is the largest in the Northeast. In September 2015 the Game Commission went live with the Elk Cam, which is located on State Game Lands. Available for viewing from August through October, the Elk Cam captures many other types of wildlife, even including an occasional Bald Eagle.

Elk Cam is seen by literally millions of U.S. and international viewers every year. The activity is just starting for this year, but as the rut (breeding season) begins it ramps up quickly. The live stream can be viewed at https://www.pa.gov/agencies/pgc/wildlife/wildlife-viewing/wildlife-cams on the internet.

The best times to view Elk Cam, as you probably already guessed, are in the early morning and late evening (dawn and dusk) when the elk are most active. Elk Cam will be on until October 3rd this year.

Not everyone chooses to watch Elk Cam. Some folks travel there in person to observe the elk. For those that do, the Pennsylvania Game Commission has adopted a program called ELK SMART.

ELK SMART has four ways for observers to stay safe and for the elk herd to stay wild. The first is to give the animals space. Don’t approach closer than 100 yards away. Bulls are very aggressive during the rut and cows will defend their young.

The second is never feed wild animals like elk. Feeding them is illegal. It also causes them to associate humans with food, and they will eventually lose their natural fear of us. Only bad things will result.

Third, don’t name the elk. Thinking of them as human or as pets detracts from their independence and wild nature. None of this behavior helps the herd.

The fourth way to help the elk and be ELK SMART is to do your part. If you see someone harassing the elk or being careless, please ask them to stop. The authorities can be reached at 1-833-PGC-WILD if needed. Together we can protect the elk herd and ensure that they stay forever wild.

If you have a few free moments, check out the Elk Cam.

Let’s all enjoy the outdoors!

John S. Van Etten is the current president of the Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs of Sullivan County, Inc.