A mother and her daughter reported being chased by an aggressive cow elk after they walked past her newborn calf Wednesday morning near Alberta Falls in Rocky Mountain National Park, according to RMNP officials.
The reported aggressive behavior is normal for cow elk during this time of year if people get too close to their babies, said Rocky Mountain National Park Public Information Officer Kyle Patterson in an emailed statement, adding that it is currently elk calving season.
The mother who made the report to the National Park Service said that the elk chased her and her daughter Wednesday morning after they walked past her newborn calf near Alberta Falls, which is a waterfall that can be reached by numerous trails near Bear Lake and Glacier Gorge in Rocky Mountain National Park, according to the emailed statement.
She also reported that numerous visitors continued to approach the cow elk and her calf instead of turning back, which Patterson said was unfortunate, and further agitated the elk. Patterson said no injuries were reported.
“In May and early June, some cow elk will separate from the herd and travel solo. This is a sign that an elk might be ready to give birth or she might have a young calf nearby,” Patterson said in the emailed statement. “New mothers of all species can be very aggressive and will act to protect their young.”
The encourages visitors to avoid and be cautious of all known calving areas during calving season. The bird sanctuary along the Lake Estes Trail and the Stanley Park area are common places for elk births, although they can take place anywhere in the park, the .
Patterson said that people should not approach wildlife, especially mothers with young.
She also wrote that newborn elk are born scentless, which she said helps protect them from predators. Patterson added that elk mothers may hide their young in a sheltered area while foraging for food, and that these calves are not being abandoned.
“Always give wildlife plenty of space,” Patterson said in the emailed statement. “Ask how far you should stay away … not how close you can get.”
For more information on viewing wildlife, including tips on how to keep safe and take photographs from a distance, visit
