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Longtime Cannon Beach resident urges visitors to keep distance from elk
Summary
Liz Beckman, a Cannon Beach resident of 50 years, told meeting attendees that elk are wild and unpredictable and urged visitors to keep their distance to protect both people and wildlife.
Liz Beckman, a Cannon Beach resident of 50 years, urged visitors to avoid approaching the town's elk, saying their unpredictable movements can put people and animals at risk.
Beckman said she often hears elk in the forest and neighborhoods — "they make this whistling sound" — and that locals generally respect the animals by slowing down and not approaching them at the roadside. She said approaching elk is dangerous and that interactions between people and elk increase the chance that someone will be hurt.
"Remember, if you're too close, it's too late," Beckman said, adding, "Stay back and stay safe." She warned that if human-elk interactions continue, the likely response would be to remove the herds, a step she said the community should work to avoid.
Beckman framed distance and caution as ways to protect both the public and the animals, noting the community is "incredibly fortunate to have the herds in our area."
