Everyone knows that elk are beautiful and majestic animals, but perhaps it's their magnificence that leads so many tourists to foolishly let their guards down around these massive animals. Many tourists seemingly treat them like big cows or horses, when in reality, these are wild, dangerous animals that have no problem hurting a human that gets too close. That said, it's worth noting that it's never wise to creep up on a wild elk, regardless of whether it's a bull or an elk, and cornering one is downright foolish, especially when there are antlers involved. This warning carries even more weight when bulls are in the middle of the rut, as the testosterone that drives these animals to chase after suitable cows leaves them as volatile as a grizzly looking for its next meal. So, the easiest way to avoid danger is to treat a set of antlers as a warning to keep your distance, as it means it's that time of year, and virtually anything can push them over the edge. We see this exact series of events play out in before us in the following clip, as a tourist finds himself on the wrong end of such a scenario.
It's probably safe to say that tourist stood outside of his car just a little too long, as that bull wasted no time making a beeline straight toward him in a fit of rage. And, make no mistake, an animal of that size with antlers like that could kill a human without much trouble. We fully expected the bull to rough up the paint on the side of that minivan, but the driver was fortunate he didn't catch one of those points.
Every fall, scenes like this play out in the National Parks of both the U.S. and Canada. More than one tourist has had to explain to a car rental agency why there are punctures in the side of a car from a bull getting a little too riled up. As a result of too many incidents, most National Parks recommend 25-50 yards of minimal distance between yourself and the animal. Just because that big lumbering beast looks friendly and is not running away does not mean it is not a wild animal willing to defend itself if necessary. Fortunately, this incident ended with both human and elk unscathed.
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