Yellowstone Park officials have warned photographers and tourists to stay away from elk and to use zoom when taking pictures of the animals.
The National Park Service (NPS) published a warning urging visitors to Yellowstone National Park to stay away from bull elk in Yellowstone National Park.
The NPS advises photographers and tourists to keep their distance from the park’s resident population of elk particularly as the fall mating season begins — cautioning that visitors are responsible for their own safety.
“Stay away from bull elk in Yellowstone, especially during fall mating season,” the NPS says in a statement. “You are responsible for your own safety”
The government agency explains that the elk mating season, commonly referred to as the rut, has begun in Yellowstone National Park.
Yellowstone National Park is home to between six to seven herds, which amounts to 10,000 to 20,000 elk at this time of year. Elk can be especially aggressive during mating season.
“Stay alert, stay away, stay safe,” the NPS writes. “Bull elk are unpredictable and much more aggressive during this time of year and people have been severely injured. Elk run quickly and may change direction without warning. Attacks can be unprovoked and unpredictable.”
‘Give Them Room, Use Your Zoom.’
The NPS advises photographers and tourists keep at least 25 yards (23 meters) or the length of two full-sized buses from elk.
The government agency told photographers to use the zoom feature on their cameras when shooting elk and even advised on lenses.
“Give them room, use your zoom,” the NPS writes. “Never approach or pursue animals to take their picture. Lenses with focal lengths of 300mm or greater are recommended for adequate reach.”
The NPS warns that if an elk approaches a person, they must back away immediately.
The government agency advises photographers to find shelter in their vehicle or behind a tall, sturdy barrier if an elk charges or runs towards them.
However, if nearby shelter is not available, photographers should run away as quickly as possible.
There have been numerous cases of tourists and photographers getting too close to the animals in Yellowstone National Park. In May, a Yellowstone National Park guide filmed a photographer who refused to move away as a grizzly bear and her cubs crossed a highway.
Menawhile, in March, PetaPixel reported on a photographer who was filmed going nose-to-nose with a bison.