There are only 6000 tule elk left in the world, all of them found in California. Some of them roam along the coastal hills of Point Reyes National Seashore, an area that is also occupied by cattle and dairy ranches. To protect grazing land for cows, some of the elk are confined by high fences. But as drought worsens, and the elk are cut off from food and water, large numbers of them are dying. A band of activists have been trekking through the fog, in darkness, to try to help them.

*The initially released version of this episode was revised on the same day of its release.

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Through the Fog Credits

Nocturne is produced by Vanessa Lowe.

Music

Nocturne theme music by Kent Sparling

Additional music:

Kent Sparling 

Find more information about Jack Gescheidt.

Sounds of the nighttime water drop were recorded by Tony Sehgal, for his film, "Dying of Thirst at Point Reyes National Seashore".

More information on the issues related to the tule elk and cattle operations at Point Reyes National Seashore:

www.pacificsun.com/death-by-design-how-the-national-park-service-experiments-on-tule-elk/

www.abc7news.com/tule-elk-deaths-protest-endangered/10838764/

https://www.nps.gov/pore/learn/nature/tule_elk.htm

www.sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2020/09/13/point-reyes-protest-calls-out-park-service-over-tule-elk-water-supply/

www.abc7news.com/tule-elk-deaths-protest-endangered/10860141/

www.ptreyeslight.com/article/elk-activists-stage-protest-ranch-land

www.ptreyeslight.com/article/true-boom-and-bust-fenced-herd-shrinks-drought

www.ForElk.org

www.IDAusa.org

Episode art by Magdalena Metrycka