Daily Postcard: An elk calf stands wobbly legged beside the Valles Caldera entrance road June 5 in Valle Grande. New life is emerging across Valles Caldera National Preserve (VCNP). Visitors are asked not to interfere with wildlife. Newborn elk calves are often seen lying in the grass, alone. However, this does not mean that they are abandoned or helpless. This is a tried-and-true defense against predators. Elk calves are born scentless; their mothers will bed them down and then move away to graze so that predators aren’t drawn to the calf via their mother’s scent. If predators, including people, approach the area where the calf is hidden, the cow elk will aggressively defend its calf by charging and kicking. ‘Please do not approach or disturb wildlife at VCNP. Just give them space and let them do their thing. Remember, if a wild animal’s behavior changes because of your presence, you are too close.’ –VCNP. Learn more about wildlife at Valles Caldera National Preserve: https://www.nps.gov/vall/learn/nature/wildlife.htm. Photo by Megan McAlonis-Hernandez/NPS