If you have gotten stuck in a rut this summer, the Northwest Trek Wildlife Park has the perfect cure. Its annual “Get Out of the Rut” weekend, Sept. 1-3, recognizes the elk herd that inhabits the park.

“Every year, we have a Get Out of the Rut weekend on Labor Day weekend, because the elk are in their rut season,” said Cherilyn Williams, spokesperson for Northwest Trek. The elk “rut” is the term for their breeding season.

“They (the elk) get very vocal this time of year… there will be some bellowing and pushing each other around.” During their rut, male elk can be found posturing, bugling or antler wrestling.

Twenty-nine elk, which is the second largest species of deer, call Northwest Trek home, according to Williams. They are of varying ages, with two calves added this season.  

Williams said activities planned for Labor Day weekend include moose stories being told under the tent, wild games in the picnic area and antler crafts in the Cheney Discovery Center.

The antler craft is timely, according to Williams, because it is about this time of year the male elk shed the velvet on their antlers.

Northwest Trek sees more than 1,000 attendees during each day of the event, she noted, which is suitable for all ages. “Weather makes a huge difference on attendance,” she said.

A full schedule of Get Out of the Rut festivities will be available onsite and are included in the price of admission to Northwest Trek. The park is open at 9:30 a.m., and the last tram goes out at 6 p.m.

In addition to the Get Out of the Rut weekend, Northwest Trek will also be hosting Elk Bugling Tours on Saturdays and Sundays throughout September. The tours from 8-10 a.m. each day are $40 for adults and $22 for children.