Nature's Calling - Elk, Fall Colors, & Foraging (Oct 2015)

Get valuable tips and info about elk, fall colors and foraging for persimmons and walnuts in Missouri in this month's "Nature's Calling."
Welcome to this month’s nature’s calling. I’m Lucas Bond with the Missouri Department of Conservation.
Do you hear that? That’s the sound of a bull elk bugling here at Peck Ranch Conservation Area, located in the Ozarks.
Since 2011 more than 100 elk have been restored to Peck Ranch.
Elk’s breeding season occurs mostly in late September or early October. And at that time elk are very vocal and active. The bull elk’s bugle is basically a loud scream that attracts females and also wards off other bulls.
We offer a 13-mile self-guided auto tour that takes you through some of the most diverse woodlands and glades of the state. We also take you through some intensively managed wildlife forage openings where you’re likely to see deer, turkey, occasional bobcat, and of course our newly reintroduced elk herd. It’s open 7 days a week from sunrise to sunset. And we also provide the same type of tour over at Current River Conservation Area where you’re likely to see some of the same type of wildlife.
While there are no guarantees of an elk sighting, the tour is a beautiful drive through fields, forest, and glades.
From driving through a guided elk tour to seeing the beautiful fall color display, fall is here and it’s here to stay…for now anyways.
As the heat of the summer fades into the cool weather of fall, trees and shrubs around the show-me-state start their annual color display.
Chlorophyll makes a tree’s leaves green. When the chlorophyll is done working for the season, the yellow, orange, and red pigments already in the leaves are unmasked and shine through.
Color change is predictable, but varies from year to year depending on the weather.
I’m expecting a good fall forecast. I think we are going to have lots of good color this year.
It’s been rainy and fairly mild, fairly cool. So the trees have had an easy growing season. So that means they’re not stressed, they’re not going to lose their leaves early hopefully.
We should have lots of good fall color.
Fall color typically peaks in Mid-October.
To find the best places for fall color viewing, download the mobile app- Mo Fall Colors.
It provides users with weekly fall-color reports and scenes from around the state, complete with GPS navigation information.
Users can even add their own fall color photos.
While you’re outdoors taking in the beautiful fall colors why not forage around and pick up a few walnuts or even give persimmons a try.
Persimmons are known as nature’s candy. When they’re fully ripe you can use the pulp to make cakes, breads, cookies, and much more. But be sure to be quick and pick them fast because numerous wildlife love the taste of nature’s candy as much as we do.
Missouri is the world’s top producer of black walnuts. Walnuts fall off trees around late September through October. Black walnuts can be used for baking and confections and can even be pickled hole.
For more information about elk, fall foliage and foraging visit mdc.mo.gov.
Thanks for watching! And remember nature’s calling, get out and enjoy Missouri’s outdoors.