THORP, Wash. (AP) - When first-graders from Valley View Elementary School step off their bus at the end of Joe Watt Canyon Road on Feb. 4, they'll know they're on elk home ground.

Three first-grade classes from the school for many years have annually taken a field trip to the elk winter feeding area in the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area 15 miles northwest of Ellensburg.

There elk are daily fed alfalfa and alfalfa mix hay starting around 8 a.m.

Teachers prepare students beforehand to be quiet and respectful of the nearby herd that can reach up to 800 animals or more.

They realize loud noises and sudden, highly visible motions even from behind the fencing can scare the elk back into the hills.

"It's amazing to see those magnificent animals, and it's also a miracle to see so many first-graders all being very quiet at the same time," said Bev Nelson, one of three first-grade teachers at Valley View Elementary School in Ellensburg. "They k now they're now visiting in the elks' territory."

Sixty-six first-graders from Nelson's class and the classes taught by Donna McFadden and Tammy Longoria will go on the field trip Feb. 4. It's part of a teaching unit called "animals in winter" during which students learn about hibernation, migration and winter survival.

"You can talk about all this in the classroom and show them pictures, but when they actually see elk in the wild, well, they're amazed and their eyes are just glued to that herd."

The winter feeding of hay, depending on weather conditions and snow cover, begins by Dec. 15 and continues, at its latest, into April.

State Department of Fish and Wildlife officials point out that being able to see so many huge elk, which normally keep hidden in trees and brush, is not the main goal of the feeding operation.

It's to keep the herd from encroaching on private property in the lower elevation areas of the Kittitas Valley and to supplement their diet to get them through the winter in better shape.

Wayne Hunt, assistant wildlife area manager and a wildlife biologist, said deep, hard-packed snow can make it difficult for the Rocky Mountain elk to browse for native grasses that may still be sticking up in the snow or to find a variety of woody brush.

Last week's rain and warm temperatures melted the snow on the 60 to 80-acre field and meadow area where the elk congregate for feeding. This allowed more elk to browse for natural vegetation in higher elevation areas two to three miles away: thus fewer elk are now coming for hay.

Before the melt-off the herd that was cautiously wandering in for a meal numbered about 660. After the snow left, that number dropped to about 400.

Although the herd presently gets about 100 yards from the fencing and the parking area, it has come in as close as 20 to 30 yards after animals become more used to the operation.

"These are wild animals that don't normally come this close," Hunt said. "It's awe-inspiring to see that number of animals in one place."

Jim Huckabay, Daily Record outdoors columnist and Central Washington University professor of geography and land studies, said he visits the Joe Watt Canyon Road feeding area six or more times each winter.

"Everybody likes a free meal, and so do the elk," Huckabay said. "It's a chance to watch animals and watch people look at the animals. There's a lot of oohing and aahing and wowing by the humans while they're watching.

"It's a great family outing."

The normal winter range for the elk is farther down in the valley; the winter feeding also protects elk from being hurt on local roadways and protects drivers from hitting them, Huckabay said.

A byproduct of the feeding is a wildlife watching opportunity, he said, something he's been doing and writing about for 30 years.

"Taking time to watch wildlife helps us understand ourselves and where we stand on this planet," Huckabay said. "And we get outside and into the fresh air."

Nelson said retired elementary school teacher Shirley Krogstadt started the winter field trip to Joe Watt Canyon at least 20 years ago in cooperation with retired wildlife area manager Lonnie Landrie. She and former first-grade teacher Mary Seth, now retired, later joined in on the trek.

"We are very fortunate we have a place like this so close," Nelson said. "The wildlife department people there are all so cooperative and patient in answering the students' questions."

Huckabay agrees.

"I tell people we're so lucky living here in paradise," Huckabay said. "You can drive 15 minutes and you're out there with wild animals."

State Department of Fish and Wildlife officials discourage citizens from feeding deer, elk and other wildlife species during the winter, despite how they appear in the cold months.

The best way to help wild animals survive a severe winter is to maintain high-quality habitat plantings year-round, according to the department.

Drawbacks to privately feeding deer or elk:

• The expense to provide proper feed, in sufficient amounts, and for the length of time necessary to be effective.
• Concentrating deer and elk at a feeder can create problems by making animals more vulnerable to disease, predators and poaching.
• Feeding areas can draw animals across well-traveled roads and create safety hazards.
• Attracting deer and elk to feed can also cause the animals to damage nearby agricultural areas, trees and landscaping, especially if the artificial winter feed is not maintained.
• Deer and elk's digestive systems often are not readily able to process many common types of artificial feed. If they don't have enough fat reserves to carry them through the digestive adjustment period, they can die of starvation even with a belly full of feed they cannot digest.

Resources

• Information on wildlife viewing opportunities statewide 
• Information on the economic value of wildlife viewing

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.