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Bull elk in a meadow during the fall rut in Colorado
Many people underestimate the damage an elk can do, especially when their hormones are firing on all cylinders during mating season. One driver in Colorado was treated to an unfortunate reminder of that reality, as they’ll need to get a window replaced after drawing the ire of a member of a herd that took over a golf course.
Approximately 30 states have a documented elk population, although the vast majority of those massive mammals roam the western part of America. No state boasts more of them than Colorado, which lays claim to the largest number of any defined territory on the planet at an estimated 290,000 (Montana takes the silver with “just” 135,000).
Those animals primarily reside in the western part of the state in the vicinity of the Rocky Mountains, and they spend the warmer parts of the year foraging at higher elevations before heading down when mating season, which is known as the “rut,” kicks off in the fall.
The rut is a bit of a tourist attraction, as many people flock to the areas where the elk convene to experience the signature bugle they use to attract mates and watch bulls battle with their antlers while vying for a partner.
Estes Park is one of the more popular gathering spots for onlookers, but one person highlighted one of the risks that come with getting too close due to what transpired while they were observing a herd.
An elk shattered the window of a car that was stopped on the side of the road in Colorado
Estes Park is a quaint mountain town that sits at approximately 7,500 feet above sea level and attracts millions of visitors per year as the primary gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park.
It’s also a popular destination for elk when the rut rolls around, and while the town closes the meadows where they tend to gather to prevent people from getting too close, there’s only so much officials can do to prevent close encounters.
The 18-hole golf course in Estes stays open during the rut, but there’s a very good chance you’re going to cross paths with some elk if you decide to play it in September or October. That’s certainly the case this year, as the track has welcomed a sizable herd, which includes a large bull that has earned the nickname “Smash.”
He certainly lived up to that name earlier this week, as a video that was filmed near the course captured him charging at a white Honda CR-V that had stopped to observe the herd before shattering the rear window as the driver tried (and failed) to drive away before he made impact.
I guess they got a story out of the encounter, but they probably wish it didn’t come with a repair bill.