Talk about an adorable staredown. A deputy had to wait for an unusual road crossing after a cow elk stepped in front of their patrol vehicle. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said the elk gave the deputy a long look while other elk crossed the road. The department joked that deputies don’t usually but this elk helped to make a funny exception.
According to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the cow elk stayed in place long enough for her family to cross safely, never taking her eyes off of the police. The deputies shared the video for posterity, and it shows the animal standing near the patrol vehicle. Once the other elk were clear, the deputy was apparently “allowed” by the cow elk to continue.
The sheriff’s office described the encounter as a curious cow elk making sure the rest of the group made it across the road. It was a pretty routine situation, at least until the elk decided it was going to start directing traffic. But the brief delay in traffic might have been one of the cutest things those deputies saw that day.
The moment also showed why drivers in Colorado often have to be ready for wildlife in the roadway. Elk are common in parts of the state, including mountain and foothill areas where roads cut through their habitat. Fortunately, this crossing ended safely for the elk, the deputy, and the rest of the animals.
How Did the Cow Elk Stop the Deputy?
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said the elk gave the deputy a stare while her family crossed the road. The animal did not appear to be running from the patrol vehicle or acting panicked. Instead, she stood her ground until the other elk had enough time to cross.
The office treated the encounter lightly in its social media post, noting that it is not often deputies are the ones being stopped. However, the department’s description also made clear that the cow elk was between the patrol vehicle and the crossing group. Once the rest of the animals crossed, the road delay appeared to end without incident.
Why Do Colorado Drivers Need to Give Elk Room?
Colorado Parks and Wildlife advises people to observe animals from a safe distance and avoid doing anything that could make wildlife move unnecessarily. The agency also says people should use an animal’s behavior as a guide and give it more room if it appears stressed.
Elk can also be much larger than they may appear from inside a vehicle. Colorado Parks and Wildlife says cow elk can weigh 400 to 600 pounds, while bull elk can weigh up to 900 pounds. So, even a calm-looking wildlife crossing can turn dangerous if a driver crowds the animals or tries to force them to move faster. So if you find yourself in this situation, slow down, watch, and let the animals by.