Wildlife officers on Monday caught and relocated a lost elk that was wandering around the Denver area, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
The elk was first spotted west of Denver over the weekend and seemed to be making a loop around the metro area, visiting homes in Lakewood, Denver and Englewood before CPW officers caught him, according to a post on social media from CPW.
“He was in a bad place for elk and close to some highways, so we stepped in to help,” CPW officials said in the post.
CPW officers darted and blindfolded the lost elk before loading him up in a trailer for relocation, according to the post. Wildlife officials didn’t say where the elk was released but said officers relocated it to a “better wildlife habitat” in the Colorado wilderness while “making noise and yelling at him” to make sure the elk still has a healthy fear of humans.
A video posted by CPW shows wildlife officers leading the elk out of a trailer onto a dirt road surrounded by vegetation, clearly away from the city he was found wandering. The elk turned back multiple times to look at the officers before wandering away down the dirt road.
“Remember elk are in rut this time of year and the males can be particularly aggressive and territorial,” CPW officials said. “Give them a wide berth while they are looking for love.”
Remember elk are in rut this time of year and the males can be particularly aggressive and territorial. Give them a wide berth while they are looking for love.
Btw, wouldn’t this make a great dating profile pic for the bull? Felt cute, might bugle later. pic.twitter.com/Ng2HvSvrwm
— CPW NE Region (@CPW_NE) September 23, 2024
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