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Elk have arrived at Grandfather Mountain, just in time for the mountain's habitat keepers to select the winning names in the 2017 Elk Naming Contest.
The elk, which arrived Dec. 7, are officially named Doc, Merle and Watson-- after world-famous bluegrass/folk icons and High Country natives Doc and Merle Watson-- thanks to a submission from Sharon Webb, of Charlotte.
"In thinking about all of the famous North Carolinians who herald from our mountains, the late Doc Watson and his late son, Eddy Merle Watson, immediately came to mind," Webb said. "Their names are synonymous with Appalachian mountain bluegrass music."
The Watsons also have a history with Grandfather Mountain, as the nonprofit Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation's former president, the late Jim Morton, was dear friends with the Watson family. Doc and Merle even lent a hand with Morton's construction of the mountain's famous Profile Trail.
By submitting the winning names, Webb will receive a four-person pass to Grandfather Mountain and a Behind-the-Scenes Tour, where she and her party can see the animals up close and personal -- including Doc, Merle and Watson.
Webb didn't enter the contest just for the prizes, though.
"I am an avid supporter of Grandfather Mountain," said Webb, who, with her husband, Will, has a second home that sits directly adjacent to a Nature Conservancy easement on the mountain itself. "I am a nature enthusiast and an animal lover ... My entire family loves to take nature walks, and we all enjoy the diverse wildlife, flora and fauna found on Grandfather Mountain.
"Grandfather Mountain means community in the best sense of the word to me. It is home to so many beautiful species of plants and animals and a place where people of all ages can experience and learn from the beauty and wonder nature has to offer."
Once Doc, Merle and Watson are fully grown, they'll bring more than a literal ton of beauty and wonder to the mountain. The trio is currently about four months old, and each is nearly twice the size of an adult white-tailed deer.
"Unlike exhibits found at some zoos, our environmental wildlife habitats are built around the animals' actual native environments, offering them ample room to roam as they please -- even if it means being out of sight for some privacy," said Frank Ruggiero, Grandfather Mountain's director of marketing and communications. "The new elk habitat is gorgeous, and I'm sure Doc, Merle and Watson will enjoy their own little shady grove."
The new habitat was made possible by generous support from the A.J. Fletcher Foundation and Jim and Barbara Goodmon.
"Their financial support, encouragement and enthusiasm for the project helped make this beautiful addition to the mountain a reality," executive director Jesse Pope said. "We really can't thank all our donors enough for their love and support of the mountain this year. This would not have been possible without them."
However, in 2001, the National Park Service began reintroducing elk into Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and they've been thriving there ever since.
Visitors can meet Doc, Merle and Watson just by visiting Grandfather Mountain's environmental wildlife habitats. Along with the elk, the park's habitats are home black bears, cougars, bald eagles and river otters.
Grandfather Mountain is open from 9am to 5pm every day in winter, weather permitting, except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Park opening is delayed until all roads and paths can be cleared of snow and ice, but a phone call to the Entrance Gate at 828-733-4337 can confirm the day's conditions and set the stage for a memorable outing.
The not-for-profit Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation strives to inspire conservation of the natural world by helping guests explore, understand and value the wonders of Grandfather Mountain. Call 800-468-7325, or visit www.grandfather.com.
