A video posted to TikTok by the account “Estes Park | RMNP Tours” appears to show a group of people being charged by a bull elk in a residential area of Estes Park, Colorado. The footage, filmed from inside a vehicle, captures the moments when the animal approaches four individuals who seem to have been attempting to get close to it. The video has since drawn significant attention online.
The clip opens with a view of two women and two men walking on a paved street, with mountains visible in the background. An off-screen male voice comments, “Almost scary.” On-screen text reads, “They’re Almost Scary…” followed by “Was his reply to us…” Additional text appears stating, “They Were Warned!”
As the group walks toward a house, an elk with large antlers emerges from the right side of the frame and walks onto the paved area. On-screen text reads, “They Wanted A Photo…” and then, “Was It Worth It?” The elk appears to begin moving directly toward the group.
Video appears to show elk charging toward members of the group
The footage appears to show the situation escalating quickly. The woman in the red shirt screams and runs toward the house, apparently seeking cover. On-screen text reads, “Miracle #1…”
The elk continues its advance, appearing to charge toward the man in the green shirt. He runs around the side of the house to escape, while the woman in the red shirt takes cover behind an outdoor table on the porch. A female voice in the video can be heard urgently saying, “No, please get in the car. They’re charging. Please, that elf is charging. Am I right?” The on-screen text displays, “Miracle #2.”
The elk then stands near the house, still facing the people. The female voice calls out, “Just down the street. Jack, please walk away.” A dark SUV appears to drive between the elk and the group, providing a temporary barrier. The elk moves behind a large tree, and the on-screen text reads, “Miracle #3.”
The man in the green shirt is seen running further down the street, away from the elk. The off-screen male voice instructs, “Yeah, just go down the hill. Go down the hill.” The woman in the black shirt also runs down the street. The female voice adds, “Go down the hill. Go down the hill. Please, he just charged us twice.” The video concludes with the elk standing under a tree near the house while the people appear to be at a safe distance. The final on-screen text reads, “Always Respect Wildlife.”
Video’s caption addresses wildlife safety in Estes Park
The video’s caption reads, “Don’t be a Greg! ⚠️ Always respect wildlife and give them plenty of space. It’s the animal that suffers when they are stressed by ignorant humans.” The caption includes the hashtags #elkrut, #bullelk, #estespark, #pettingzoo, and #untamed.
The video has generated a range of responses in its comment section. One commenter wrote, “The way Greg circled the landscape 🤣😭😭” while another asked, “Omg. Is he ok. The elk, is he ok. According to the video’s creator, 😘” A third commenter stated, “them being desperate is pissing me off.” Commenters’ amusement at the elk’s antics reflects a broader appetite for wildlife videos, such as a Canadian woman filming a mystery animal stealing her cake in Mexico.
Others focused on the group’s behavior. One person commented, “Looking back to see if you got it on film,” while another wrote, “‘Can we get in your car please?’ I’d be slowly driving off while making eye contact.” One commenter simply said, “I’m so rooting for the Elk!!”
The video appears to document one of many encounters between visitors and wildlife in the Estes Park area, which sits at the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. Bull elk are known to be particularly active during the rut, or mating season, which typically occurs in the fall. The video’s hashtag #elkrut suggests the encounter may have taken place during this period. Encounters like this are not limited to Estes Park, as hikers in Glacier National Park were asked to see wildlife and a grizzly bear appeared and rolled around on the trail.
