Backyard picture...seriously

My niece and her husband just bought a house in Golden, Colorado, and this is a picture taken by the previous owner of an elk herd in the back yard! What in the world!??? Where is Santa when you need him? Aren't elk the same thing as reindeer, or is that something else? I can't remember. I'm trying to fight off squirrels and rabbits. My pups would have a stroke if they looked out the back door and saw that. Someday when we move into the country, I bet we'll have wildlife, but for now the only wildlife we have around here are three teenagers. If this was my yard, I'd seriously frame this picture - it's my dream!