Leave the elk alone at Lone Elk Park, experts advise

It’s mating season, and the animals at Lone Elk Park in St. Louis County seem to want some privacy. Or else.

At least two women have been attacked by angry elk this fall at the park.

Nature photographer Kent Burgess told KSDK Channel 5 that he was at the park on Sunday when he saw four people approaching an elk to take a selfie.

"It charged them and put its head down and was shaking its rack right at one female. She was injured in the arm and had some blood on her face," Burgess said.

The assistant director of the St. Louis County Department of Parks and Recreation told the Post-Dispatch that a woman was gored in the back earlier this month.

“Some people unfortunately think elk are this gentle, tame animal, but that’s just not true,” assistant director Tom Ott said. “They are wild animals. These people who are walking up to them are asking for trouble.”

It was at least the second elk attack at the park this mating season, which lasts about another two weeks, park officials said. There is a herd of 17 elk at the park.

This story was originally published October 10, 2017 at 8:31 AM with the headline "Leave the elk alone at Lone Elk Park, experts advise."