The elk mating season or rut is busy time for the police department of Estes Park, Colorado as the receive numerous daily calls for officers to respond to elk issues around town. The vast majority of issues are caused by tourists. According to Estes Park Police Chief Wes Kufeld the most common reports to dispatch are people getting too close to the elk and elk jams caused by tourist obstructing traffic while viewing elk from their vehicles.
Every year thousands of tourists come to Estes Park to watch herds of elk gather in the valley for their mating season and its is extremely dangerous for those who venture too close to the spectacle. During the rut bull elk are irritable and can easily become aggressive if approached.
It took under 10 seconds for group posing in front of bull elk to realize they had gotten way too close. Thankfully a bluff charge from the bull sufficed in scaring them away and no one was injured. Elk viewing is a mainstay of Estes Park local economy. The town recognizes this encourages visitors to take a safety first approach. Learn more about elk safety from the Estes Park Police below.
Estes Park Police Department Guide To 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 &ldquo,jumpy&rdquo, 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 pets to harass wildlife. Residents and visitors alike are reminded to be aware of wildlife at all times and to observe safely from a distance.