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Longtime Cannon Beach resident Liz Beckman urges visitors to keep distance from elk
Summary
Liz Beckman, who said she has lived in and around Cannon Beach for 50 years, told a public comment that visitors should not approach elk because they are wild and can behave unpredictably; she warned that repeated human-elk interactions could lead to efforts to remove the herds.
Liz Beckman, a longtime Cannon Beach resident, told a public comment that visitors should keep their distance from local elk herds, saying the animals are wild and can behave unpredictably.
Beckman, who said she has lived in and around Cannon Beach for the past 50 years, described hearing elk in nearby forests and encountering them near neighborhoods and roads. "It's pretty incredible that we have elk all around us," she said, noting that residents often hear the elk's whistle and use it as a signal to stay away.
She urged caution when motorists and visitors see elk at the roadside. "If we see them by the side of the road, we just keep driving," Beckman said, adding that drivers may slow down because an elk could jump into the roadway without warning. She emphasized that approaching elk is dangerous and could result in serious injury.
Beckman also warned of a secondary consequence: if people and elk continue to interact closely, she said, the likely response would be to remove the animals from the area. "And if that happens, I can't imagine that the response isn't gonna be to get rid of them," she said, urging visitors to respect the animals to protect both people and the herds.
She closed her remarks with a direct appeal to visitors: "Remember, if you're too close, it's too late. Stay back and stay safe." The transcript does not record any formal action or response following her comment.
