The elk seem to concentrate around Mammoth Springs during rut and calving. Not too many years ago during rut a bull moose trashed a car for no particular reason. I bet the insurance company wasn’t thrilled.
“I bet the insurance company wasn’t thrilled.”
That sounds like a commercial in the making.
An we covered it.....
In early June 2014, while on a trip to America, I stepped out of our motel room in Gardiner, MT (the north portal to Yellowstone) with my three year old grandson to go for a walk. We went to the end of the motel porch to look at the mountain behind the motel, and I saw an elk calf reclining against the building. In no time at all, Mum came charging around the corner and came straight at us. I was not familiar with the habits of such critters, and did not realise the danger we were in.
The cow reared up and tried to kick my head, and I had luckily just bent down to pick up my boy. We ran off to our room, but the cow followed us and we just did get the door open and got inside. I was pissed annoyed at what she had done, and in ignorance stepped out to chase her away. She came at me again but tripped on the porch step. I still to this day do not know how I did it (she was taller than I, and I was 69 years old), but I managed to give her a swift kick right on her chin, then hightailed it back inside. I am certain that it didn’t bother her much, but she would not leave our doorstep. She kept us holed up for nearly three hours, then the motel manager called some police or Rangers of some sort to run her off, and they explained to me my transgression in getting between her and her calf. They are certainly frightening and obstinate beasts.