Living on a homestead in elk country will likely provide you with many opportunities to see these massive animals roaming around. But, are elk dangerous?
Yes, elk can be dangerous on your homestead. A cow elk is most dangerous in the spring when she is protecting their nearby claves. Bull elk tend to be most dangerous during the fall rut when they are challenging and battling other males for breeding rights. Below I’ll tell you how you limit your risk of attack and how to protect your property from elk damage.
How dangerous are elk?
Elk are large animals weighing 500-700 pounds and standing up to 5 feet tall at the shoulders. Elk often attack by being kicking and stomping, and the attacks can be very serious. For example:
- 2011 – Lori Limebeer was attacked in her front yard in Payson, AZ. She suffered a concussion. The elk charged her from 20 feet away.
- 2012 – A woman in Estes Park, CO was rushed to the hospital in serious condition after an unprovoked attack by a female elk. Apparently, the woman simply walked out of her house and surprised a cow with her calf.
- 2017 – A bull elk attacked two women on separate occasions in a park in Estes Park, CO. Both women were taken to the hospital. The elk was put down by authorities.
- 2018 – An employee at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel in Yellowstone National Park was attacked by an elk. The elk was protecting a calf who was about 20 feet away, hidden by cars. She was reportedly kicked multiple times in the head, torso, and back. She was flown to the trauma center at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center to be treated for her severe injuries.
- 2018 – A Yellowstone Park visitor was walking between two cabins at a hotel when she was surprised by an elk with a calf nearby. She tried to back away but the elk pursued her and struck her in the head and torso. She was taken by ambulance to Livingston Memorial Hospital.
The moral of the story is be on the lookout for elk when you walk around your homestead. They may be just around the corner of your house or behind a tree in your yard. You don’t want to surprise them!
When are elk most dangerous?
According to the US National Parks Service, there are basically two times a year when elk are most dangerous.
Spring: In the spring, Cow elk are especially fierce because they are protective of their calves. Around springtime, they will hide calves near cars or buildings. You should be cautious when exiting buildings or approaching blind corners.
Fall: In the fall, bull elk battle for access to cows and challenge other males during the rut. They also charge cars and people who get too close. Always stay at least 25 yards (23 m) away from elk.
What to do if you see an elk on your property.
Do not try to approach the animal. Instead, back away slowly and give it space. It would be best to let it leave on its own. If you need immediate access to the area where the animal is, you might try scaring it away from a safe distance.
What to do if an elk attacks you.
If you happen to surprise a cow and her calf or are targeted by an aggressive bull, there are some things you can do to keep yourself safe.
- Back up. Make sure you get behind the nearest tree, fence, or building that can act as a strong barrier between you and the elk.
- Run. If the elk charges you, run! Unlike with cougars, bears, or even dogs, it’s usually a good idea to run from an elk because usually, it won’t chase you very far. If running is not an option, the US Park Service says you can sometimes stop a charging elk by making yourself look bigger, yelling loudly, and aggressively waving your arms or a jacket.
- Curl up in a ball. If an elk knocks you to the ground, curl up into a ball and cover your head with your arms. This will protect your head and vital organs when the elk starts kicking and stomping on you.
- Don’t get up. Once the elk has gotten tired of kicking the snot out of you, don’t get up until it moves a good distance away. If you try to get up while it’s still close by, it could attack you again.
How to protect your property from elk damage.
Problems associated with elk include damage to tree farms, hay and alfalfa fields, orchards, gardens and landscape shrubs.
Standard fencing: Fences should be built with sturdy posts and woven-wire. They should be 7-8 feet high to prevent elk from jumping over them.
Electric fencing: Electric fences will give elk a shock, but doesn’t harm them. They should have eight to ten strands of high tensile steel wire supported by conventional fence post systems. Polytape electric fencing is much wider and more visible than traditional electric wire fencing and is meant to work as a visual repellent as well as a shocking device. Once an elk has been shocked by a polytape fence, it is likely to both remember and recognize the wide, brightly colored tape and avoid going near it again. If you don’t have a power source near the area you want to fence-in, you could choose one of the solar-powered models.
Infrared motion detector water sprinkler: These sprinklers are designed to humanely scare off all kinds of animals, including elk. They are battery operated and hook up to a normal garden hose. When they detect movement in the area they will spray water and make a loud noise to scare off the animal. It is best to move the sprinkler around your yard to keep the animals surprised.
Motion-sensor lights: These lights help startle any kind of intruder, even the two-legged variety.
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Hope you have a really great day and keeps:)ing!
