Let me pose a hypothetical scenario for you.
You decide to visit Yellowstone National Park during the elk rut. For some reason, you haven’t seen any information about how dangerous bull elk can be this time of year. In fact, let’s say you’re completely oblivious to the fact that bull elk are extremely aggressive this time of year.
With that being said, you see a large bull elk charging at cars, making loud grunts, and acting very aggressively. What do you do?
Do you stand there like an idiot and take photos for your Instagram account? Or, do you act like any reasonable human and get back into your car to give the elk as much space as possible?
You’ll see which option the bozos in the video below chose…
Tips from Yellowstone National Park to stay safe during the elk rut:
“Though the elk rut is undoubtedly a spectacular phenomenon, it’s important to be mindful of your own safety and that of the animals while you watch—and listen—to this spectacular display. Bull elk can become extremely aggressive during mating season, and may charge vehicles or even people if they feel threatened. As a general rule of thumb:
- Give the elk plenty of room. This includes refraining from approaching them in your vehicle—or especially on foot.
- It’s illegal to approach elk closer than 25 yard in the park, or to imitate the call of an elk.
- Exit Mammoth Hot Springs buildings on high alert, as you never know who might be bedded down in a patch of shade just outside the Mammoth Dining Room!”