Two kids assaulted by elks in a Colorado community, incidents occurring four days apart.
A young boy was enjoying himself at a playground by Stanley Park in Estes Park, Colorado, around 1:30 p.m. on a Monday, when a female elk suddenly charged and stepped on him multiple times, according to a Colorado Parks and Wildlife news release. The release continued, stating that two elk calves were hiding nearby where the boy was playing.
Fortunately, the boy received help from a family member who scared off the cow elk. The young victim was later taken to a hospital and released after treatment.
Later on, an officer from the Colorado Parks and Wildlife department arrived at the scene. The officer had to use non-lethal bean bag ammunition to move away a few more cow elks from the playground.
According to Kara Van Hoose, a spokesperson for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the elk have left the area and they have not received any further updates on their whereabouts.
Van Hoose also explained that the Colorado Parks and Wildlife manages 42 state parks, watches over the state's wildlife and maintains over 300 state wildlife areas, and oversees many recreational programs.
The playground at Stanley Park has been closed indefinitely since the incident. Sections of the Lake Estates Loop trail are closed as well. Signs warn visitors about the potential presence of aggressive cow elks in the area.
Similar events occurred four days prior to the boy's incident. An 8-year-old girl was riding her bike around 1 p.m. in Estes Park when a cow elk charged at her and stomped on her repeatedly. The girl was also taken to the hospital but was later released.
A Colorado Parks and Wildlife officer discovered a cow elk and a calf near the girl's location. The officer shot the cow elk to calm it down, as the animal had become aggressive. The calf was then studied by the agency's health lab, Van Hoose confirmed. She added that the adult cow elk was not euthanized, and the bean bag rounds did not inflict injuries on the elk.
Neither of the children had disturbed the elks, Van Hoose stated.
She also made it clear that the agency does not think the same cow elk was involved in both incidents.
"Calves often hide to protect themselves from predators, so they are also hiding from us. That's what happened in these cases; the kids were not aware the calves were nearby," said Van Hoose.
On Monday, Estes Park posted a warning to their Facebook page that read: "Even though they may look harmless, like the bull elk during the rut, cows are extremely dangerous during calving season ... The bird sanctuary along the Lake Estes Trail and the Stanley Park area are common places for elk to give birth, but births can take place anywhere. For safety's sake, it's important to obey the 'trail closed' signs and take a different route. Be on the lookout in residential neighborhoods; people have been injured by approaching an elk between its calf and the animal. "
The agencies advised that the calving season for elks starts in late spring and lasts through summer, warning everyone to stay away from these animals.
Elks are known for their aggression towards what they perceive as threats to their young, who are immobile. "This is a basic instinct. It's biology. They don't have any emotions, they just react; they don't have a way of thinking through situations," Van Hoose told Denver's CBS affiliate, KCNC-TV. "When they sense that something is threatening their child, they will protect them."
However, it is not unusual for calves to be left alone while their mothers search for food. The best advice is to leave baby wildlife where their mother left them until they return.
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The local authorities urged residents to exercise caution in the area, advising them to obey the "trail closed" signs and take alternative routes, as the us children had unfortunately encountered aggresive elks during their outings.
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife department continues to monitor the situation, working tirelessly to protect both the community and the wildlife, ensuring the safety of both us and the elks that call this region home.
