Watching the Elk in Estes Park
One of the wonderful aspects of visiting Colorado is the opportunity to see the wildlife.
Seeing the incredible amount of elk during our visit to Estes Park last year was one of the greatest wildlife experiences we’ve ever encountered.
If you’re from a state like Oklahoma, where large game like this is non-existent aside from elk farms or zoos, it’s easy to understand why it’s easy to be mesmerized by such observations.
And we were extremely thrilled!
When we arrived in Estes Park in 2022, the annual rut was underway, so large elk sightings are typical in Rocky Mountain National Park during this time, as they migrate from higher elevations to lower pastures for mating.
However, you don’t have to drive to the park to see them.
Our first sightings of these beautiful creatures were smack dab right in the middle of town at Bond Park.
Half a dozen cows (females) were nonchalantly grazing the grass and resting in this park next to the police station. You could easily walk up to them, BUT it’s not recommended, as they can become aggressive — especially when male bulls are present to protect them.
So avoid the temptation to pet them while taking a selfie.
Besides, you could get a ticket from local police officers for not giving the wildlife ample space. Keep 75 feet away from them and it will all be good.
But wait, there’s more!
During our daily river walks to visit the stores or Kind Coffee, we often saw plenty of bulls and cows hanging out near the visitor center or stores. Sometimes, we even had to wait 30–45 minutes to cross a trail because those elk just don’t care about you or your caffeine fix. LOL!
The Estes Park Golf Course is a common gathering spot for these large animals and offers an excellent opportunity to view them.
The males seem to enjoy the putting greens, much to the frustration of golfers, as they often tear them up during their afternoon naps. The females are usually found on the fairways not far from the bulls. There are also areas along the walking path where they rest with the calves — which have plenty of warning signs for visitors to be cautious.
Yet at different times, we’d see herds meandering along the highway by the water park or eating in the locals’ backyards.
The elk are everywhere in town.
What’s up with the bugling?
For several weeks, we would hear the bulls (males) bugling day and night. This somewhat eerie sound is used to attract cows while warning other bulls to stay away from their harem.
Research led by Dr. Jennifer Clarke at the University of Northern Colorado suggests that different types of bugling sounds mean different things. One sound communicates that the bull is in the area with his harem; another warns the cows that they’re straying too far from their bull; and others tell potentially competitive bulls that they’re too close to the first bull’s harem and in for trouble if they come closer. - Outside Magazine, My Colorado Parks.
Are elk really dangerous to approach?
Most of the time, these creatures appear relaxed and calm as people approach them, which can easily deceive you into thinking they are domesticated animals.
However, they are wild and can be very dangerous.
I watched a bull elk go after a photographer in Bond Park, and I have seen many videos where people and cars were attacked.
The males, like most of us dumb guys, get highly aggressive when their testosterone is flying high. They can be unpredictable in behavior, can run up to 40 mph, and jump 8 feet vertically.
And with weighing up to 700 pounds, they could easily kill you.
It is wise to give them plenty of space. You don’t want to be on the news because you wanted to hug one.
Other cool things to know.
Whether we observed the herds at Moraine Park, Upper Beavers Meadow, or along the golf course, it was interesting to learn about elk facts from others or see how they behaved, including:
High-pitched squeals by calves: A newborn calf communicates to its mother this way; she recognizes her calf by its voice.
Low grunts by the males: They use this to signal danger or when dumb selfie-takers are getting too close.
Bulls aggressively chasing cows: If a harem cow wanders from the herd, the bull will stretch his neck out low, tip up his nose, tilt his antlers back, and circle her.
We also learned that the cows and calves live in loose herds, while the bulls are bachelors who generally live alone. They usually only come together for the rut, then go their separate ways when it’s over.
Wham, bam, thank you, ma’am.
Experience it for yourself.
If seeing elk in Estes Park or Rocky Mountain National Park interests you, plan to visit in September for the best chance to see them around town.
You can still see them at other times, but this was when we saw the most action in the area, though the large herd we discovered on our drive was at the end of October.
So you never know!
We hope you get to enjoy this incredible experience for yourself.