By Shannon Lukens. (Some pictures may be disturbing.)

 

A bull elk was hit and killed this morning on Hwy 131, right before it connects with Hwy 40, just outside of Steamboat Springs.

Deputy Anderson with the Routt County Sheriff’s Office says an ambulance responded but the driver of the vehicle refused transport.

He says a local resident stopped and got a Road Kill Tag to take the elk for the meat to be processed. Workers from Colorado Department of Transportation were also there.

Sgt. Patrick Rice with Colorado State Patrol says the call came in at 6:37 a.m.

 

“This time of year, the elk are moving a lot. They’re looking for those cooler areas and they’re going to be crossing those roadways. Drivers need to be aware especially in the early morning hours and in the late evening hours when the sun is coming up and the sun is going down that the wildlife is moving. We need to keep our eyes out and keep looking down the road. And please be aware that they’re going to be traveling across the roads and we don’t want to have direct contact with them in that fashion.”

 

Video of elk courtesy Rebecca Huffstetler

Steamboat Radio posted a video Wednesday morning of a herd of elk trying to cross Hwy 40, near where the bull elk was hit on Wednesday. It was to alert people that elk are in the area and could be trying to cross the road. Sgt. Rice says says that is why it is always important not to be distracted while driving.

“It only takes a split second for that elk or even a bovine cow to jump up on the road and we just need to be aware and ready for any kind of wildlife. Imagine that wildlife is a boy chasing their ball. We always need to be aware, even if we’re out far away from town of what could be coming up on the road.”