Elk charges 8-year-old girl riding bicycle, stomps on her, Colorado officials say

An elk protecting a calf charged and stomped on an 8-year-old girl riding a bicycle nearby, Colorado officials say.

“This is an unusual and unfortunate situation where a young girl was playing outside, far from the calf, and a cow elk became aggressive to protect her newborn,” area manager Jason Duetsch said in a May 31 news release by Colorado Parks & Wildlife.

The encounter took place in the town of Estes Park around 1 p.m. Thursday, May 30, the agency said.

The girl was riding her bike in a neighborhood when the elk charged from 60 yards away, wildlife officials said. The elk caught up to the girl and stomped on her repeatedly.

The girl was treated at a hospital and released later that day, officials said.

A wildlife officer searched the area and found a cow elk with a newborn calf, the agency said.

The elk became aggressive so the officer drove it off with a bean-bag projectile, officials said. The officer returned the next day and retrieved the calf, which will be cared for by the agency.

“Officers will haze cow elk in the area as necessary to discourage interactions with neighbors,” officials said. Signs have been posted and neighbors are warned to keep pets on leashes.

“While it is a natural reaction for cow elk to be very defensive during calving season, it is not often they hurt someone, especially a child,” Duetsch said in the release.

Elk in Colorado typically give birth from late spring through early summer, the agency said.

Estes Park is about a 65-mile drive northwest of Denver.

What to know about elk

Elk are huge animals that are part of the deer family. A bull elk can weigh up to 700 pounds, according to the National Park Service.

During elk mating season, also known as “the rut,” bulls can become aggressive as they compete for female elk attention. If an elk feels threatened by a person, it could try to kick or chase them, officials said.

“When alarmed, elk raise their heads high, open their eyes wide, move stiffly and rotate their ears to listen,” the National Park Service said.

Here’s how park officials say you can stay safe:

• Stay at least 100 feet away from elk at all times.

• If you come into an area with an aggressive elk, back away slowly.

• Leave baby elk alone.

• Don’t approach or feed elk.

This story was originally published June 2, 2024 at 11:36 AM with the headline "Elk charges 8-year-old girl riding bicycle, stomps on her, Colorado officials say."