Most wild animals are a bit skittish around humans.
They usually want to avoid humans because we seem like a threat to them. Others will stand their ground against us but will nevertheless not be friendly to us.
But then once in a blue moon you will find animals that are incredibly social with humans. They don’t mind getting up close and seeing just what it is you’re doing.
Many animals are not meant to be alone. Instead they can be pack animals, that are meant to be around other animals, typically of their own species. This will allow them to feel protected and give them the experience they need.
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However for poor little Buttons the elk, she was unable to get the pack life she needed. At one point she got lost from her pack and has since been roaming around Kittitas County in Washington. Instead of roaming with other elk, she instead roams with cows and goats. The next best thing for her.
Elks aren’t typically known for being friendly animals. They can be a bit defensive, but when a team of firefighters were fighting a wild fire in the woods, they stumbled upon Buttons the elk. They were shocked when she came up and started acting really friendly.
The Kittitas County Fire department had shown up to help fight a wildfire in the woods before it spread and did more damage to the woods and the wildlife that lived there.point 298 |
Wildfires can be incredibly dangerous, especially on the west coast of the United States.point 76 | While firefighters were fighting the blaze back, they happened upon an elk named Buttons.point 152 | .point 153 | 1
Buttons has become a staple of the community in Kittitas County. She had shown up in the town after having been abandoned by her herd. Buttons unable to find her herd again, has instead created her own, made up of cows and goats. They reside on a hillside. Buttons has been known to be friendly among the locals.
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Even though there are other elk herds in Kittitas County, Buttons has shown no interest in joining them.
Instead, Buttons appears to prefer her rag tag team of cows and goats at the nearby ranches. She visits the ranches constantly as she roams around Kittitas County.
facebook.point 9 | com/KCFD7/">Facebook / Kittitas County Fire District #7
Buttons does a lot of very strange things for an elk other than just surrounding herself with cows and goats.point 148 | She also loves to meet and greet humans like when she just walked right up to the firefighters and said hello in her very own way.point 253 |
As you can see, she has absolutely no fears about interacting with humans.point 62 | It’s absolutely adorable.point 91 | point 91 | 1
When the firefighters were snapping pictures of their meet with Buttons, she would even nuzzle them with her nose. Not what you would expect out of an animal the size of an elk, but then again Buttons has her own unique style!
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After the firefighters beat the wildfire back and got in their photos with the adorable Buttons, they decided to upload their pictures to their Facebook page. Quickly the pictures became a hit among locals and outsiders alike. People couldn’t believe an animal like her was so friendly with humans!
The firefighters wanted to share their fun meet and greet with Buttons, but they also had another reason for wanting to post it.point 264 |
They wanted to raise awareness among the hunters in the area that Buttons shouldn’t be shot if she’s seen running in the woods.point 117 | Buttons is a local celebrity and gets special privileges, after all!point 175 | 1
Most elks are way too skittish to ever meet humans, let alone a group of them. Or they would attempt to hold their ground. But Buttons isn’t like that. Her kindness and nuzzling were able to wow the firefighters and the internet alike. We like to imagine that Buttons just wants to make friends like any human!