SALINAS, Calif. -- A heard of about 50 elks wandered down near Old Stage Road Tuesday morning, a fairly rare sighting so close to Salinas.

The Tule elks can only be found in California and they sometimes come down from the hills for food.

Once on the brink of extinction, the Tule elk population dwindled to about 20 in the late nineteenth century.

A partnership between the state and private citizens saved the large mammals, increasing their numbers to around 3,800.

"They are coming down closer to housing now, closer to the road because they're getting to be more of them," said Tarry Palmisano with the Department of Fish and Game. "Occasionally we have conflicts between farming and elk. They break down fences and they're not good neighbors in that respect."

Mating season starts in a couple of months, so there may be more elk sightings on the horizon.

Fish and Game officials suggested that elk-watchers keep their distance from the animals as they can become aggressive due to their unfamiliarity with people.