In the middle of a scenic riverside meadow on the frontier of Boise's stalled eastern sprawl is an elk that likes to run with the bulls.

Meet Ernie, a Harris Ranch legend for the past three years. Although he has been known to hang out with the local bulls and cows, he was also reported chasing some white-tailed deer last year.

"I have no explanation for why he's confused about the species thing," said Ed Mitchell, conservation information supervisor for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

Mitchell said he has seen the elk for at least the last two years. Curious onlookers can see Ernie by pulling off Warm Springs Avenue about a mile east of the new East Parkcenter Bridge and looking off to the south. Recently, he was bedded down less than 100 yards from the street.

"He's not very shy, as long as you don't get too close," Mitchell said.

Keith Bryant is an East Boise resident who first noticed Ernie before the animal grew the large antlered rack that crowns him today.

"We were driving out there about three years ago, and we thought he was a cow," Bryant chuckled.

Since that time, Ernie has proudly matured into what some people call a "royal," an animal with six pointed tines on each side of his head, for a total of 12. Bryant took a recent drive to the area to show off the great elk to some acquaintances.

"He's been kind of a mascot for Harris Ranch," Bryant explained. "They even have some nice pictures of him at the clubhouse, playing with the bulls."

Dr. Richard Kinney is a Boise State political science professor and Harris Ranch resident who took those photos on display, as well as a youthful picture of the elk that can be seen at Lucky 13 pizzeria off Warm Springs Avenue. He said the opportunity to take those photos was given to him by chance.

"I was just walking along the Greenbelt one day, and I saw the elk," he said. "I had my camera and just started taking photos as he was playing with the bulls."

Kinney said he had another comedic sighting of the elk last spring, just after the animal had lost its antlers for the year.

"I saw the elk trying to herd a calf," he laughed. "His antlers were gone, but he was going down to the calf as if they were still there."

Harris Ranch was once envisioned to be Idaho's largest planned community although numerous setbacks have put it on a longer schedule than originally anticipated. Ernie appears to be safe from developers—for the foreseeable future, anyway.

The directors of a Sun Valley homeowners' association recently prohibited an elk herd to be fed within their development.

Over the objections of several homeowners, the board of the Sun Valley Elkhorn Association decided against leasing open space to the private organization Wood River Elk Trust II, which wished to continue feeding a herd that has been fed there for the past three decades.

In a letter to homeowners, directors listed concerns such as property damage, vehicle crashes and predator issues. Retired Idaho Fish and Game officer Lee Frost countered these concerns, submitting a letter in support of feeding the elk.

"During the past 20-plus years ... I have never received a private property complaint concerning wintering elk from any Elkhorn owners," wrote Frost. "It appears that the elk feeding issue has been blown out of proportion."

Although elk are normally herd animals that migrate throughout the year, Ernie seems to prefer kicking back with the cattle in the City of Trees.

"He's definitely a Boise elk, because he sticks around town here," said Bryant.

Ed Bottum is a biologist for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, and he estimates the elk to be about three-and-a-half years old. Bottum has spotted the elk for the past three years, but has no idea if the animal has an official name.

"I have heard Ernie," he said. "But I've heard a number of names for him."

The biologist sees the elk occasionally in the course of his work duties, but more often on his drive through Harris Ranch on his way to and from work.

"I've seen him standing right next to the fence," he said. "Sometimes cars are lined up along the road next to people with cameras and binoculars.

"I get surprised when I see so many people stopped because he's out there all the time—but the earlier, the better."

Bottum cautioned drivers to slow down in that area because Ernie and deer sometimes cross roadways. Ernie will jump fences to run with the bulls, "kick it" with the cattle and dodge around deer.

"I've never seen him do anything that would hurt the bulls or other animals," he said.

Each fall, Ernie reportedly wanders off to go back to his roots during the rut, or mating season. Bottum said Ernie is too young to mate now, but he will get a shot within two years. As it is, the elk always finds his way back to the safety of Harris Ranch, an area protected from hunters year-round.

"He's got a good spot there," Bottum said. "I wish him a long and healthy life, he's a cool animal to have around."