With summer here, throngs of tourists are flocking to places like Colorado to take in the spectacular scenery and enjoy the wildlife. However, this time of year also bring calving season for cow elk, creating a perfect storm for trouble, as tourists are notorious for getting too close to wildlife, intentional or not. This reality was underscored recently in a video near Evergreen Lake that shows a mother elk chasing away tourists that got too close to the water's edge where her calf is apparently hidden nearby.
Let this be a lesson of what not to do this summer if you are planning on visiting a place with a population of large wildlife.
According to Fox 31 News, various reports of aggressive elk, including this video, led the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Department to issue a statement warning people of elk's natural behavioral tendencies that could endanger tourists.
"Cow elk will be exhibiting normal protective behavior of their young," CPWD told the station. "You need to give wildlife extra space this time of year and be sure to keep dogs on leashes."
You've possibly heard of Evergreen before, as it made national headlines last year sounds familiar, that's because the area made national headlines in 2020 when an aggressive bull elk sent a golfer to hospital with a gored kidney. While the man fortunately lived, the course did begin issuing warnings to other golfers. It's best to go by the National Park Service's recommendations when it comes to determining how close is too close, as they recommend staying at least 25 yards away from large herbivores, and 100 yards from carnivores such as bears and wolves. Following these rules will not only protect you, but also the animals.
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