(Facebook/Prince Albert National Park)

By Ian Gustafson

Breeding season

PANP ecologist says elk can be aggressive during rutting season, however it is rare

Sep 15, 2021 | 5:32 PM

It’s rutting season for elk in the Prince Albert National Park and staff are reminding the public when visiting the park this time of year to keep your space between you and the animal.

Rutting season, which is breeding season for elk, takes place between August and October.

Dustin Guedo, ecologist at Prince Albert National Park said seeing elk this time of year in the park is very common.

“We’re in the middle of the rut which runs from the end of August to about mid-October and during that time the elk tend to congregate in the open areas around the town site and the campgrounds and the golf course within Waskesiu,” he said.

During the rut he said the male elk known as the bull can become quite aggressive when protecting the female, they’re trying to court. Guedo said the elk taking a preventative measure by letting the public know they’re out and about and asking them to give the animals space to prevent any bad interactions.

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“It can happen, it doesn’t happen very often, but it has happened in the past where there’s been close calls of elk chasing people,” he said.

The chances of them becoming aggressive he said are rare, but they are wild animals and can be unpredictable. Some, especially in the townsite, are quite used to people and won’t back away from humans as quickly. If you do come across an elk that is aggressive, he said to make some noise, make yourself look big, give space, and slowly back away. He also said it could be useful to get some objects between yourself and the elk such as a vehicle or a tree and moving in groups also helps.

“For the most part it’s a very enjoyable experience and most people get a really nice view of the animals,” he said.

They don’t have an estimate on approximately how many elk are in the Prince Albert National Park, there are herds that move in and out of the park. In Waskesiu, he said, it’s typical to see herds of 20 to 30 elk.

“Prevention is the best solution, so just being aware of your surroundings, make noise as you travel around the park and the townsites and if you see wildlife and they stop what they’re doing and are looking at you, that’s a good indication that you’re too close.”

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Ian.Gustafson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @IanGustafson12