Footage recently published out of Estes Park, Colorado captures a close encounter between a person and an elk, showcasing why it’s important to maintain a safe distance from that state’s cervid population – generally at least 25 yards.

In the clip, a person is seen approaching and attempting to walk past a bull elk with a large rack, and based on the color of the surrounding foliage, the encounter is likely taking place during rut season – a time of the year when male elk can be prone to heightened aggression. In the background, bystanders can be heard yelling at the person to “get out of there.”

The elk can be seen lowering its head and charging at the person, who reacts by continuing to walk away. After a few more steps, the elk thankfully appears to lose interest.

While it seems like this case ended without serious injury to the person involved, that’s not always the case. An elk’s antlers can easily pierce human flesh, leading to lacerated organs and potential death in some cases. Male elk can be especially aggressive when defending a harem, as appears to be the case in the clip as female elk can be seen nearby.

Watch the clip below, uploaded to TikTok by @dukeleisuremusic:

As a general rule, if any wildlife alters its behavior around you, you’re probably too close. Back away immediately. Remember, at least 25 yards of space should be maintained for large species, with at least 75 to 100 yards of space maintained when an animal is a predator, such as a mountain lion, bear, or wolf.

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