According to some residents in Youbou, Bob is not your average elk. If you ask those who live near him in the Vancouver Island town, he is considered more of a furry celebrity.
Bob and many other elk have been roaming happily around the town for several years, grazing in people’s yards, walking along the streets looking for food, or just greeting those who drive by.
But now, resident Wendy Stokes and others in Youbou are concerned after seeing posts on social media claiming Bob was struck by a vehicle around 3 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 25.
“I keep on looking out my window, waiting for Bob to stare at me,” said Stokes.
“I want to say no, it’s not him, but the way that the police officer described his antlers and everything, you know it is him.”
CHEK News reached out to the BC Conservation Officer Service for more information regarding the incident and the identity of the elk but did not hear back.
Stokes added that “the person in the car was fine he didn’t need no ambulance or nothing. Usually, your car gets totalled because you know they are big.”
Being in an urban environment, Bob’s had close calls in the past, including in 2019 when BC Conservation officers had to tranquillize him to help remove a wire wrapped around his antlers.
Stokes said she is hoping to get a call back soon from the company that disposed of the elk’s body to confirm with the ear tag whether or not it was Bob.
CHEK News also reached out to RCMP for details on the accident but did not hear back before deadline.
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