An adorable video has surfaced, capturing a heartwarming moment in Evergreen, Colorado between two boys and a wandering elk.
This unique interaction was captured by Shira Moffatt and has quickly gone viral.
The curious elk wanted to jump in on a ball game.
The video begins with the two boys kicking a soccer ball back and forth near a ridge.
As they play, an elk perched on the ridge curiously observes the action.
Intrigued by the ball, the elk kicks it and it rolls down the ridge back to the boys.
This simple but magical moment marks the beginning of a playful interaction between the children and the elk.
One of the boys, clearly enjoying the interaction, throws the ball back up to the elk, who sniffs and stomps on it, treating it as small prey.
The headbutting and stomping are typical for elk with objects they find curious or potentially threatening.
Despite this, the elk’s actions are playful and non-aggressive, creating a unique and enchanting scene.
The elk is having a blast and continues the game with the boys.
The boys and the elk continue this playful exchange, with the ball being thrown back and forth.
The elk’s curiosity is evident as it repeatedly “engages” with the ball, much to the boys’ delight.
This sequence showcases the elk’s intelligence and adaptability, as it appears to understand the nature of the boys’ game and participates with surprising enthusiasm.
Expert opinion from a spokesperson for Colorado Parks and Wildlife emphasizes the importance of maintaining a safe distance from wildlife, as demonstrated by the children in the video.
Note that the boys didn’t throw the ball directly at the elk.
They were not harassing the animal and their actions made it clear they were inviting him to play.
The elk’s playful behavior served as a reminder of how wildlife can exhibit curiosity and interact with humans in unexpected ways.
While the video shows a charming encounter, it’s crucial to remember the importance of safety when interacting with wildlife.
Maintaining a safe distance is essential to ensure both human and animal safety.
The children in the video set a good example by enjoying the moment without getting too close or provoking the elk.
Keeping this distance is key to respectful wildlife observation.
The video has gained plenty of attention, garnering over 700,000 views.
Its popularity can be attributed to the unusual and endearing nature of the encounter, as well as the clear joy experienced by the boys and the evident curiosity of the elk.
The video serves as a delightful reminder of the unexpected ways nature can interact with us and the simple joys that can arise from such encounters.
Viewer comments reflect the widespread amazement and joy sparked by the video.
One viewer remarked, “Incredible footage! I’ve never seen an elk interact with humans like that. They tend to be skittish and defensive around humans. Amazing that this moment was caught on film.”
“Amazing that the elk knew not just to play with the ball, but also to send it back,” another wrote.
These comments underscore the unique nature of the encounter and the elk’s remarkable behavior.
As one viewer perfectly summed it up, “I could watch this for hours! That elk showed incredible intelligence. He seemed to comprehend what those boys were doing. Best clip I’ve seen in a long time!!”
See how this elk jumps in on a game of ball below!
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