[mrsD]

This is a very unusual, and somewhat disturbing video.

But it all turns out in the end. If you watch until the very end there are some stunning shots of the Elk.

I personally think this was not a good idea...but it made a very interesting video.


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[Kitty]

All I could think of during that whole clip was that the "photographer" was invading that elk's home. And risking his safety (and possibly his life) just to get a good photo.
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When will people understand that these wild animals are being driven out of their natural habitat because of unwanted human intervention.

That man was very lucky that elk didn't haul off and wallop him. And if he had.......I think he would have deserved it.
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[mrsD]

Given the small antlers on this guy, I suspect he is a young buck just coming into his testosterone for the first time... The young bucks practice on each other this way. If this had been a woman without the testosterone "aroma", the elk might have wanted another part of the human anatomy!
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There is a video on YouTube of 2 guys who discovered a deer antler tangle which killed one of the deer. They decided to untangle the living one, but to their surprise, near the end of the video, this deer actually attacked one of the men, and almost gored him. Those deer had large racks and many points on their antlers. Once a male deer or elk, is in his "rut" time, typically all thought is gone, and only animal nature remains. Very dangerous.

[Kitt]

That photographer didn't seem to have a clue as to what that elk could have done to him. What a stupid move to be out of your vehicle doing what that guy did. I am sure there were signs as always that you should not be out of your vehicle be it bears, moose, buffalo or elk, etc. That photographer could have been slashed to death by the elks hooves. And very easily, let alone being gored. He is just stupid as some other people are as well when it comes to these wild animals.
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[Lara]

That would have been very scary - such a powerful animal.

I can't for the life of me wonder about the people watching from the cars nearby. What took them so long? I couldn't really hear the sound but maybe he had some sort of signal that he sent when he felt too threatened.

Perhaps the guy was momentarily channeling Steve Irwin.

[mrsD]

Here is an unhappy follow up about the elk in the video. Evidently it was causing problems with people, and looking for food from them! It had probably been fed and somewhat tamed by humans when younger I think.


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[Kitt]

Watched the video again and then the news report. Yes, it had been fed by humans so of course it was looking for food. Every park I've been to tells you not to feed the animals and to stay in your vehicle. Photographer or not, he should have been in his vehicle. If people would follow the rules there would not be a reason to put an animal down due to the antics of people. But a lot of people never follow the rules. This happened in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Here are their rules and regulations. Click on:


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Scroll down - you can't be within 50 yards of an elk or a bear and you cannot feed them among other things.

I've seen it with a guy out taking pictures of a moose. Little did he know that the moose could have had him in a few big steps. Really stupid.
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