Bull Elk Smashes Car Window in Estes Park

A bull elk, known locally as “Crash” or “Smash,” aggressively damaged a vehicle on Sept. 18 in Estes Park, Colorado. The elk, which often charges vehicles in the area, used its antlers to shatter the rear side window of a Honda. The incident occurred while the Honda idled near a golf course, where the elk and its harem were congregating. A video from the scene shows the elk approaching the idling vehicle, accelerating, ramming the side of the car, and then breaking the passenger-side rear window.

In the video, a man exclaims, “Oh, oh, oh, that’s not good,” and a woman responds, “I’m out of here, I’m done.” The man replies, “I don’t blame you. Ohhh, that was bad.” As the Honda drove away, the bull elk returned to its harem and bugled.

The elk rut, or mating season, typically runs from mid-September through mid-October in Colorado. During this time, bull elk use bugles to attract females and their racks and boldness to fight for them, according to the Estes Park website. Large harems are commonly seen on local golf courses during this period.