An elf-induced traffic jam is rather common in the “Elk Capital of the World.”
Tourists are almost guaranteed to see elk when they visit Estes Park, Colorado. It’s estimated that over 280,000 elk live in Colorado, which is enough to give the state the honor of housing the largest concentrated population of elk in the world. Believe it or not, that many elk bring in tourists from all over the planet, particularly to the Estes Park area.
The town acts as somewhat of a base for the Rocky Mountain National Park, and always has elk moving through and around the city limits. Herds occasionally take over Estes Park, and the humans that call the town home, or are visiting the area, are often witnesses to great numbers of the antlered creatures roaming freely.
And sometimes they exercise that right to roam wherever they want right in the middle of the road.
I’d be preaching to the choir if I sat here and said, “Traffic sucks, am I right?” We all know that, and we’re all very much aware of the road rage that can be caused from slowing to a stop when you’re supposed to be moving. It just might be the most infuriating thing a human can experience.
But if beautiful, wild animals like elk are to blame, would you say that makes sitting in traffic any more tolerable? Obviously you’d have to be a crazy person to stop and admire a herd of Nissan Altimas holding things up in front of you. That’s a given. Though I’d argue that if it’s dozens of elk that are holding things up, the majestic element of nature might make the delay easier to digest.
And guess what? Animal-induced traffic jams are more common than you think. If you don’t believe me, you are welcome to check into this traffic jam that was caused by bison, or feel free to watch this video of an elk herd treating a Utah interstate like it was a game of Frogger. When you live out in more rural areas that animals also call home, they’re occasionally going to stop you right in your tracks… whether you like it or not.
I find this video out of Estes Park all the more entertaining because the elk herd that’s holding things up could literally not give two sh*ts that people are trying to go somewhere. They’re roadside grazing session quickly flooded out into the street, and they weren’t in even the slightest bit of a hurry. These elk were just living their best lives and taking things one step at a time… even if it meant that all of the drivers had to wait on them.
Inconsiderate? Sure, one might label the situation as such. However, it’s also interesting to see that most of the cars in the video were parked and patient as the random act of nature was playing out in front of them. These elk were effectively being traffic cops, and as far as I can see, all of these Estes Park drivers were obeying the law that the antlered creatures were laying down.
Check it out:
