A growing elk lodge
Another species that has found sanctuary at Point Reyes National Seashore is the tule elk. The smallest of the elk species was nearly hunted to extinction, practically disappearing by 1860. By 1873, California provided protections for the species and in 1978, two bulls and eight cows were relocated to the area to try and reintroduce them to their native habitat. The attempt was a success and somewhere around 450 tule elk now call Point Reyes home, making it one of the largest populations in California. They can be viewed best within the Tule Elk Preserve at Tomales Point.