Courtesy Photo The infamous elk in Rogers City is seen in this courtesy photo. A young bull elk that captured the attention and hearts of the residents of Rogers City last year has returned and is making himself at home.

ROGERS CITY — A young bull elk that captured the attention and hearts of the residents of Rogers City last year has returned and is making himself at home.

Roger, which locals have affectionately named the animal, has been seen all over the city, and photos and videos of the elk are again flooding social media.

Last year, the juvenile elk took up residence for several weeks in Rogers City and as residents and visitors to the city gathered to see it, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources decided to spook the animal back into the woods to rejoin its herd.

Over the last year, Roger’s antlers have become larger and he has increased in body and muscle mass.

This time, the DNR and city officials are going to let Roger call Rogers City home, unless problems arise and the state decides to lure him away.

Mayor Scott McLennan saw the elk on U.S.-23 making his way into town Monday morning and captured some photos. Since then, Roger has been seen in the heart of downtown and in residential areas. So far, there haven’t been any reports of damage caused by the wild animal.

“People have taken photos of him in the lawn at the courthouse across from city hall and in people yards,” McLennan said. “He really likes the backyards of people who have apple trees, because those are his favorites. Some residents have woken up in the morning to see that he has spent the night in their yards.”

The timing of the elk’s return is curious, McLennan said. He said last year, the young elk introduced himself just as elk hunting season was about to commence. Archery season for elk begins on Oct. 1 and rifle season the following month.

McLennan urges people to remain a safe distance away from the elk because it is a wild animal and its temperament can change and become dangerous if it wants to. He said right now, the animal is calm and minding its own business.

McLennan wonders if Roger’s visits to Rogers City will be a yearly occasion.

“He has shown up two years in a row, just before elk season, so he’s obviously very intelligent,” he said. “Maybe this will become an annual event. He is truly a free spirit and just sort of leaves the herd and comes into town. He comes in, does his thing, and then will move on to join back up with the rest of the herd when he’s ready. It’s actually pretty cool because it sort of takes the daily stress of life and adds something to take your mind off of it.”

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 or sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ss_alpenanews.com.