By Sarah Begley
A wild elk has been spotted in South Carolina for the first time in 275 years, officials say.
The bull elk was likely kicked out of a re-established herd by dominant males in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee, USA Today reports.
“If you had settled in South Carolina back in the late 1600s you would have had an abundance of elk,” said Carl Walsh, president of the South Carolina chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. “But our forefather shot them all out for clothing or food.”
Walsh says he hopes the bull will bring a female back to South Carolina to repopulate the region.
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- Coco Gauff Is Playing for Herself Now
- Scenes From Pro-Palestinian Encampments Across U.S. Universities
- 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
- If You're Dating Right Now , You're Brave: Column
- The AI That Could Heal a Divided Internet
- Fallout Is a Brilliant Model for the Future of Video Game Adaptations
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Contact us at letters@time.com