Watch And Enjoy Elk Rut In Safety

By: Kris Hazelton

The annual elk rut has begun and the bull elk are already busy bugling, gathering their harems of females and challenging one another for breeding rights.

The elk are amazing and wonderous animals that are fun to watch but remember, these are wild animals competing for dominance and the bulls are especially “pumped-up” at this time of year.

Avoid potential accident, injury or death by always viewing from a safe distance. If an animal is carefully watching you and appears “jumpy,” you are way too close. Avoid eye contact and back away. Raise your arms to make yourself look larger. For photographers, a good rule of thumb is “give them room, use your zoom.”

Keep you dog leashed and quiet. Do not allow them to bark, lunge at or chase wildlife. Elk view your dog as a predator.

Never block traffic. “Elk jams” are a danger to everyone – blocking traffic on single lane roads creates all kinds of po- tentially dangerous situations. Be sure to pull completely off the roadway, out of the way of through traffic.

Never, ever imitate an elk call or bugle during the rut. This can endanger you and the elk.

Please respect private property. Elk know no boundaries and are found all around town. If they are in a private homeowners yard, please watch the animals from a public area.

Never get between two bull elk. Situations can change very rapidly during the rut and you never want to be caught in between two rival animals.

Don’t ignore the cows, they can still be dangerous, any time of year, not just during calving season.

Remember – elk are wild animals. Be aware and be respectful. View quietly from a safe distance. Never attempt to touch or feed wildlife, it’s dangerous and illegal. Keep dogs leashed and quiet and when photographing, use your zoom, give them room.

Photos here show what not to do.

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Don’t Miss Tablesetting 101

Tablesettings 101 will take place on Sunday, September 17th, at 2 p.m. at the Estes Park Museum, 200 4th Street; and Monday, September 18th, at 5:30 p.m. at the Museum.

This special one-hour program, which is free and open to the public, will feature a variety of displays of creative tablesettings, to inspire participants in their own creations for Creative Colorado Tablesetting/Scaping 2023.

Tablesettings 101 is a prelude event to the annual Creative Colorado Tablesetting/Scaping competition to be held on November 18th and 19th at the Dunraven at The Estes Park Resort. It will offer anyone considering an entry an opportunity to gain a sense of the style and set-up that might lead to a winning arrangement. The committee members will be present to discuss the specific details of the competition and the registration process. Individuals, families, businesses, and children alike are all invited to consider entering the event. The theme this year will be Songs, Tunes and Melodies: Then and Now.

Plan to attend one of the programs and learn about the details of tablesetting/scaping and what fun you can have designing and setting your own table. Refreshments will be served.

All proceeds from the event are a fundraiser for the Museum.

More information can be found at estespark.colorado.gov/museum/programs.