It's mating season for Alberta's elk, and Parks Canada is reminding visitors to give the animals a wide berth.
Known as the annual elk rut, the onset of autumn marks a time when bull elk begin to assemble their harems for breeding season.
Wildlife experts with Parks Canada warn people to keep a distance of at least 30 metres from elk, make sure dogs are on leashes and to carry bear spray — which has been proven to work on elk, too.
They also warn against getting in between male and female elk.
Male elk typically begin gathering cows and their calves into harems, while young bulls play spectator from the sidelines. The bulls aggressively defend these harems and often there can be violent competition for harems.
Parks Canada has made effort over the years to dissuade interaction between elk and humans in Alberta's park townsites, but during mating season the elk prefer open spaces and suddenly golf courses and park grounds look mighty attractive to them.
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