ESTES PARK — Sometimes the only way to stop bullies is to embarrass them.
In the 23 years Rick Spowardt has worked for the Colorado Division of Wildlife, he’s never seen so many angry bull elk in Estes Park at one time.
“A lot of people have been chased by them,” he said.
After several incidents involving one bull, Spowardt tried something that’s popular with wildlife officers at Yellowstone National Park and a section of British Columbia.
“And that was to drug immobilize the elk and saw off its antlers,” Spowardt said.
Spowardt loaded his tranquilizer gun, fired off a few shots and started sawing away. He would have preferred not to have taken away the elk’s antlers, but Spowardt said he didn’t have a choice.
“I felt sorry for him, but I think it was preferable than him injuring somebody or worse,” Spowardt said. 9News
