WATCH – Viral video shows a bull elk shattering a car window in Colorado

Estes Park’s elk have made it clear they don’t want to be photographed this fall, and one of them just put that in writing, using his antlers on somebody’s car window.

A video that’s racking up views on Instagram shows a huge bull elk walking up to a Honda parked next to a golf course in Estes Park. The driver had pulled over to look at the herd. The bull lowers his head, swings his antlers into the rear side window and shatters it. Then he walks off like nothing happened. One national outlet compared the hit to an NFL linebacker.

So, was it Smash? You might remember him from our earlier story. He’s the 700-pound bull who earned his nickname by charging cars all over town during the rut and keeping at least one local collision shop very busy. He’s the obvious suspect. But nobody has officially pinned this one on him, and Smash has company. Another Estes Park bull, nicknamed “Crash,” rammed a Fort Collins Coloradoan reporter’s car on Sept. 18. When a town has enough angry elk that they need nicknames to keep track, you’re probably parked too close.

This is the rut, when bull elk fill up on testosterone, bugle all night and treat anything big and shiny as a rival, including your car. The elk are a big reason people flock to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park every fall. Just keep your distance: Rocky Mountain National Park asks visitors to stay at least 75 feet from elk. Stay in your car, don’t roll down the window for a selfie and never pull up right next to a bull. If one starts walking your way, drive off. A shattered window is a pain. Telling your insurance company that an elk named Smash did it is worse.

 

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