Breakfast at the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Mountain Precinct in Evergreen came with a side of antlers on Tuesday morning, when two elk wandered up and started grazing near deputies who were eating. Staff snapped photos of the uninvited guests and posted them online, turning a routine shift into a mini wildlife show and reminding everyone how common close elk encounters are in the foothills.
Jeffco Ties Visit To National Wildlife Week
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office linked the surprise visit to the county's observance of National Wildlife Week. The post reminded residents to never feed wildlife, to give animals plenty of space and to slow down when driving in wildlife areas, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
Why Feeding Elk Is Dangerous
Colorado Parks and Wildlife notes that intentionally feeding big-game animals is illegal in Colorado and can cause deadly conditions such as acidosis. Putting out food also draws animals into clusters near homes and roads and can help diseases spread through a herd, per Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Where This Happened And What To Do
The Mountain Precinct is located at 4990 Highway 73 in Evergreen, as listed on Jefferson County's website. In its Facebook post, the sheriff's office urged simple precautions, including giving wildlife room and driving carefully in wildland areas to avoid collisions and to help keep both people and animals safe, per the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
Wildlife officials also advise enjoying animals from a distance, keeping dogs on a leash and contacting the agency if an animal looks injured or acts aggressively, per Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Taken together, those small steps make surprise breakfast guests a lot safer for both deputies and elk.
