Spotting one's first elk in the wild is often an experience long remembered. Not only do these majestic creatures seem to demand attention, they're also really big. While many Coloradans that have only seen deer assume elk are a similar size, a male deer weighs around 150 pounds, while a male elk weighs around 700 pounds.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife took to Twitter recently to remind their followers just how large an elk can be, displaying the antler rack from an elk held by a man allowing for easy size comparison.
The rut is in full swing but there will be no more for this old bull elk. It died of natural causes on the grounds of the @AF_Academy and was recovered by @COParksWildlife officers Friday. It was an impressive six-by-seven rack. No doubt its genes live on in the herd. #wildlife pic.twitter.com/fXbD85aeQu
— CPW SE Region (@CPW_SE) October 30, 2020
If you spot an elk in the wild, or in a civilized area, keep your distance and never approach the animal. They're more than willing to charge and attacks can be dangerous or deadly.
See a video of a human-elk encounter in Estes Park below:
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