Two people were injured when a bull elk charged at a group of tourists in Estes Park, Colorado. The bull elk reportedly became agitated after somebody in the group took a flash photograph of the wild animal. The elk charged toward a woman and knocked her down to the ground with its massive antlers.
The woman tried to fend off the animal with her feet, but it just backed up and charged again. At that point, a park employee drove between the woman and the elk with his truck, causing the animal to ram the front of the truck with its antlers.
"I've never had to do that before, but I saw people in trouble, and I figured I could get there quick," Brian Berg told KDVR. "I knew the best thing for me to do at that point in time was to get the truck in between them."
The woman suffered minor injuries and did not require hospitalization. Another man was hurt as he dove out of the way of the elk. He hit his head on a rock and was taken to the hospital. His condition is unknown.
Officials say that bull elks can be very aggressive this time of year because it is their mating season. They advise keeping your distance from the animals.
"We are in the rut (breeding season), and bull elk will very aggressively defend their harems. Bull elk will fight over breeding rights. People need to maintain a safe distance from elk, even if they are at a building/facility/golf course or whatever human dwelling. Let the elk move away on their own, never ever get that close because something like this could happen," Colorado Public Works spokesman Jason Clay said.