Wild footage out of Rocky Mountain National Park where a tourist was spotted walking dangerously close to a bull elk in search of the best camera angle.
Colorado Wild Photography captured this footage in the park. According to their caption, they told the woman that she was too close to the animal. However the woman told Colorado Wild Photography to stop instead of backing away. Fortunately the bull elk seemed unbothered by the woman but elk are wild animals and will defend themselves with force if they feel it necessary.
Around 280,000 elk live throughout Colorado, several hundred of which call the slopes of Rocky Mountain National Park their home. The park’s Elk & Vegetation Management Plan calls for maintaining a population of 600 to 800 animals on the winter range. Only bull elk have antlers, growing them in the spring and dropping them each winter. As they grow, the antlers are covered in a protective layer of velvety skin that’s scraped off once they’re fully grown.
Bull elk are especially aggressive during the mating season, or the rut, when they become highly protective of their harems. However Rocky Mountain National Park requires visitors to give all elk at least 75 feet of space at all times (that’s about the length of two busses). Approaching, harassing, and feeding wildlife is illegal in all National Parks. Read more about safe elk viewing in Rocky Mountain below.
Rocky Mountain National Park Elk Viewing Safety:
- Elk can be seen anytime, a popular viewing period being the fall rut, or mating season. Look for elk in meadows and where meadow and forest meet.
- How close to too close? When viewing wildlife, follow the “Rule of Thumb.” When viewing wildlife, make a thumbs up; extend your arm all the way; close one eye and see if you can hide the animal with your thumb. If you can still see the animal, you are too close. Take steps back until the animal is completely hidden.
- If wildlife approaches you, back away and maintain a safe distance. If a wild animal changes its behavior due to your presence, you are too close.
- For animals like elk and bighorn sheep, keep back at least 75 feet, or two bus lengths.
- Harassing or feeding wildlife is illegal in all national parks.
- It is illegal to use artificial lights or calls to view or attract wildlife.
When we respect wildlife, viewing wildlife in their natural habitat is fun and rewarding!