Estes Park is one of Colorado’s most iconic locations, hosting year-round adventure in and around the town. Plus the town’s close vicinity to Rocky Mountain National Park makes it a key jumping off point. Throughout the year, tourists visit Estes Park hoping to catch sight of the famous elk population, but no season brings in wildlife viewers quite like the rut.
The elk rut, or mating season, sees bull elk using displays of antlers and bodies in competition for control and breeding rights over herds of females. This competition can also include brutal physical battles between bulls. The males may charge anything they see as a threat to their harem. That’s usually other bulls, but it can include vehicles and people, even if they’re given plenty of space. The child in the video below was lucky the bull just displayed its antlers and didn’t charge or attack.
Elk are often unpredictable and can be quite dangerous if not respected. Bull elk are particularly agressive during the fall rutting season, while cow elk are known to be more egressive during the spring calving season. Wildlife viewers should always leave plenty of space between themselves and elk. That’s generally at least 25 yards, or 75 feet. Read more on elk safety below.
Estes Park Police Department Elk Viewing Safety Guidelines:
- 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.
