Colorado Elk Attack Demonstrates Danger Of Spring Calving Season
Elk are just about everywhere in the mountains of Colorado, foraging in meadows and alpine tundra. As of the mid-2020s, an estimated 280,000 living in the region, marking the largest population of elk of any U.S. state. They often travel in herds of several hundred individuals, grazing primarily on grasses.
The fall rut season is the most popular for elk viewing, with bull elk battling for dominance over massive harems of females. The males are the most dangerous during this period, aggressively defending their females against other males, people, cars, and anything else they may see as a threat. The spring brings its own risks though, with calving season leading cow elk to attack anything they see as a threat against their young.
A recent video captured by Fox31 in Evergreen, Colorado, demonstrates that risk, as a woman and her dog are violently attacked by a cow. The woman managed to escape harm, ducking into a nearby body of water to get away, but the video nonetheless serves as a great reminder to always be cautious around elk.
The town of Estes Park, further north in Colorado, released a statement addressing the elk calving season, warning residents and visitors to obey all “trail closed” signs and to be watchful in residential neighborhoods. People have been injured walking out the door of their home, unknowingly winding up between a cow elk and her calf.
To view elk safely, give them plenty of space and always stay aware of your surroundings. The animals are everywhere and you never know when you might be near a cow and calf. Keep pets secured on a leash and do not allow them to bark at, lunge at, or chase wildlife. If an animal is watching you and appears “jumpy” when you move, you’re absolutely too close and should back away. Read more on elk safety below.
Estes Park Police Department Elk Safety:
The Police Department provides the following tips to visitors for safe elk viewing:
- Elk are wild animals which must be observed from a safe distance to avoid injury or death. If an animal is carefully watching you and appears jumpy when you move, you are too close.
- Keep pets secured on a leash and do not allow them to bark at, lunge at, or chase wildlife.
- Never block traffic. Move your vehicle to a safe place completely off the roadway to watch elk.
- Do not imitate an elk call, or bugle, when elk are irritable during the rut. This can endanger you and the elk.
- Elk know no boundaries, but people do. Respect private property when viewing wildlife.
- The Estes Park Police Department does enforce wildlife laws including laws against feeding or harassing wildlife, or allowing one’s pet to harass wildlife.
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