Elk in Yellowstone Chase Away Tourists Trying to Get Close to Calf

Many tourists often venture to national parks to get up close and personal with nature. But sometimes, they get too close, as two park visitors learned after attempting to get a photo of an elk calf.

This time of the year is elk calving season, so cows (female elk) are extremely protective of their offspring. After spotting the two tourists getting closer to her calf, one cow chased them away Saturday in Yellowstone National Park, as reported by Outsider.

Yellowstone sent out a media release in May reminding visitors to be aware of their surroundings in light of elk calf season. Cows become very aggressive this time of year toward any perceived threat. This includes everyone, even park rangers as Yellowstone Ranger Tara Ross told Outsider, "I’ve jumped in the back of strangers’ pickup trucks to avoid being trampled by an elk momma."

A fully grown female elk can weigh up to 600 pounds. Being trampled by one can cause severe injuries and even death.

When it comes to visiting the park during elk calving season, Yellowstone encouraged visitors to stay alert, to always keep at least 25 yards away from elk and to check around corners before exiting a building or car as elk may bed their calf near them. If an elk becomes aggressive, Yellowstone said to quickly find shelter in a car or behind another sturdy barrier.