Estes Park, Colorado, attracts tourists throughout the year, serving as the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park while offering plenty of its own outdoor recreation throughout the summer, fall, winter, and spring. One of the town’s most iconic attractions, however, are the near 2,400 elk found in the Estes valley.
Elk were originally native to the Estes Park area, but hunting for food, income, and sport caused the population to vanish by 1880. A reintroduction effort began in the 1910s, bringing in the animals from Yellowstone National Park and other areas. Through years of protection and growth, the Estes valley elk population has reached well above 2,000.
The massive animals are a popular sight no matter the time of year, but fall is the most popular time for elk viewing. The elk rut, or mating season, begins in mid-September and usually lasts for around a month. From safe vantage points, tourists can watch as bull elks fight for their harems through body language, physical battles, and their iconic, high pitched bugle. While September and October are a high point for visitors, it’s usually just another fall for the locals. In the video below, a group of football players continue to practice despite the large bull elk bugling nearby.
Thankfully everyone in the video seems to leave the elk alone, leaving plenty of distance between themselves and the animal. Bull elk aren’t just agressive to other males during the rutting season. They’re known to charge anything they see as a threat to their harem, including both vehicles and people, and approaching too close can be very dangerous. Elk should be given at least 25 yards of space, or 75 feet, at all times.
Estes Park Elk Safety
- 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.
