DENVER (KDVR) — It’s the time of year at Rocky Mountain National Park where the aspens start to turn yellow, snow dusts the top of the highest mountain peaks and down below in the meadows, elk rut season begins.
“This is the time of year to watch elk courtship,” Rocky Mountain National Park Ranger Jamie Richards said. “Bull elk are working to gather their herds and looking to find mates this season.”
Throughout the park in September and October, you’re likely to hear elk bugling, a unique and resonant tone.
“That is elk both indicating to female elk in the area that he’s around and also indicating to rival bulls that he’s also around,” Richards said.
Plenty of bugling can be heard in the meadows at RMNP, which are closed during rut season from 5 p.m. to 10 a.m. every day.
“Both for the protection of elk so that they can engage in their natural behaviors this time of year and also for the protection of visitors,” Richards said.
Richards said bull elk are typically more aggressive this time of year, so they encourage people to stay back at least 75 feet when they see them.
“That’s about the length of two buses,” Richards said.
She hopes people come out to enjoy this beautiful time of the year at the park and hopefully see some wildlife in the process, just making sure to do it safely.
“If an elk is reacting to you, you are too close, and it’s our responsibility to take some time to back up, get back in our cars, move across the street,” Richards said. “Whatever we need to do to remove ourselves from that situation.”
The daily meadow closures are in effect from now through Oct. 31.
Anthony Sutton is a business strategist and writer with a passion for management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With years of experience in the corporate world, he shares insights on business growth, strategy, and innovation through management-opleiding.org.
