Popping noise that elk make with their mouth.

[Lonnie]

Ok this last winter we had a bull elk make camp in the city park in weiser. He stayed there for a month. People were feeding him apples. I work for the city so I got to help fish and game relocate him. He was in my horse trailer and making popping sounds with his mouth. I figured it is a stay back warning. Funny thing is. With the trailer door open it took us 30 minutes to get him out. I was wondering what you guys think about why the elk pop their teeth.

[>>>---WW---->]

Never saw an elk click their teeth. But when a horse does it, you need to be aware and alert. It means he is either POed or back off!

[Beendare]

You aren't talking about Glunking are you?

The sound when you tap your palm against the end of a bugle tube. I've heard elk glunk many times...a close in communication but never click their teeth.....

[Lonnie]

I wish I would have recorded it. It was like he was grinding his teeth but you keep hearing a popping sound. And yes he was a little worked up. He tried to hook me with his horns when I was poking him in the but with a ski pole. Topically they come out of the trailer easy but he wouldn't. Very cool experience. I worked with fish and game to dart him and relocate him. You would be surprised how heavy a bull still is in the winter. We put him on a tarp after sudation. Took eight of of to pack him to the trailer threw 18 inches of snow. People were feeding him, and causing dangerous situations.

[ElkNut1]

Lonnie, yes elk will grind their teeth & make hissing sounds & other low volume pops in an effort to warn or intimidate other elk, (and apparently humans-grin) this is what he was doing to you! (grin)

Elk also will crack or pop their joints especially when in heavy cover & they cannot see each other, this is a form of communication & survival from predators as to who's who & where they are. They recognize these cracks & pops to each individual elk as if they talking to one another through mews & whines. Pretty cool stuff!

ElkNut1

[ishy]

https://youtu.be/MqBKJqzeeEk

[Lonnie]

Thank you elknut1.