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Jesse Roper: how a rambunctious B.C. elk became a rock star, and vice versa

Newly notorious Vancouver Island elk named for B.C. singer-songwriter

Move over the Metchosin one, there鈥檚 a new Jesse Roper in town 鈥 well, in Youbou, actually.

The smalll community nestled on the shores of Vancouver Island's Cowichan Lake has long honoured its wildlife, with many an elk becoming local celebrities.

Residents are accustomed to them wandering the roads and yards, and getting tangled in some intriguing items during the rut, or mating season.

For years, a Roosevelt bull named Bob captured the hearts of the community, which mourned the frequently-photographed animal after it died after a vehicle collision earlier this year.

Enter Jesse Roper.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

The Youbou one, not The Metchosin One 鈥 an affectionate nickname given to singer-songwriter who hails from the Greater Victoria district of the same name.

鈥淚t鈥檚 the rut right now and the elk are a little bit precocious right now, getting into more trouble than they normally do,鈥 explained Youbou resident Monica Ash, who knew Bob well. 鈥淲e usually name the elk if they鈥檙e highly recognizable.鈥

Residents noticed one particularly rambunctious fellow 鈥 who wasn鈥檛 named yet 鈥 had some rope around his antlers in a way that got them worried. As is par for the course in Youbou, folks called conservation to make sure the elk was OK.

鈥淲e always look after the elk, we care about wildlife in the area,鈥 Ash said.

The observation sparked online commentary on the community Facebook page, where someone decided he should be called Jesse Roper.

鈥淧eople adopted it and he鈥檚 very well known in our community now. We鈥檙e all looking out for Jesse Roper,鈥 Ash said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e both Island staples, elk and Jesse Roper 鈥 now there鈥檚 two.鈥

The rope issue resolved itself, as did the hacksaw elk Jesse Roper managed to get into a tangle with earlier in the rut, which lasts from August to mid-October.

Currently on tour in the U.S., Jesse Roper and The Pretty Good Band performs on home turf Nov. 22 in a sold-out show at the Royal Theatre in Victoria. A second show has been added for Nov. 21.

That doesn鈥檛 stop the tunesmith from catching up on social media, where he found a post about his elk namesake.

鈥淲hen I first heard the moniker 鈥榯he Metchosin One鈥 I was honoured and almost kinda shy about the title,鈥 Roper wrote on social media. 鈥淭he things you don鈥檛 see coming along the path you chose for yourself are often the most interesting. Recently, I鈥檝e seen my name popping up attached to this big handsome elk and I like it. Apparently he had rope wrapped around his antlers so the locals in Youbou named him Jesse Roper. May he live long and make many mini elks.鈥

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About the Author: Christine van Reeuwyk

Longtime journalist with the Greater Victoria news team.
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