Home / Environment / Elk Herd Crosses I-75, Michigan Drivers Urged Caution
Elk Herd Crosses I-75, Michigan Drivers Urged Caution
2 Mar
Summary
- Numerous elk were seen crossing Interstate 75 in Otsego County.
- Michigan State Police warned drivers to use extra caution on Sunday, March 1.
- The elk herd is located between Vanderbilt and Gaylord, Michigan.
Michigan State Police issued a safety advisory on Sunday, March 1, for motorists traveling on Interstate 75 in Otsego County. Drivers were alerted to a significant presence of elk crossing the highway lanes and entering the median.
The affected area is near Winters Road, situated between Vanderbilt and Gaylord. This region is recognized as the center of Michigan's elk population. Elk are considerably larger than whitetail deer, with adults weighing up to 900 pounds, posing a substantial risk to drivers.
The Pigeon River Country State Forest, home to one of the largest free-roaming elk herds east of the Mississippi, is located in southern Cheboygan, Otsego, and Montmorency Counties. Approximately 1,000 elk reside in this range. While no crashes were reported on Sunday, the alert emphasized the need for heightened driver awareness in the vicinity.
