Colorado Has Wyoming to Thank for Its Wonderful Elk Population

Thousands of people visit Colorado if only to get a glimpse of the state's elk herds. Whether it be within Rocky Mountain National Park, or say, Estes Park, you can count on tourists wanting to witness the majesty.

Not many people think about "why" there are so many elk in Colorado, we simply enjoy the fact that they're here. It all goes back to a great story about neighbors helping neighbors, long ago.

When the elk come out, it makes Colorado feel like "Colorado." They're big, they're majestic, they're really something to see.

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Maybe you've seen them wandering Mariana Butte golf course in west Loveland (or the neighborhoods in the area;) perhaps you've been one of the thousands to see them taking over Estes Park during mating season (the rut) every year.

Most of the time, things are fairly calm, considering the bull elk are looking to keep other bull elk away from potential mates; other times, things can get heated, like below:

HOW MANY ELK ARE IN COLORADO?

According to Colorado Parks & Wildlife, Colorado boasts the world's largest elk population at over 280,000. At one point, there were over 325,000; elk hunting seasons help to keep the population contained.

COLORADO WAS ALMOST BARREN OF ELK, AT ONE POINT

it's hard to believe, but back in the early 1900's, Colorado's elk population was so low, that help was needed to keep up any sort of continued population.

WYOMING HELPED TO MAKE COLORADO AN ELK-VIEWING DESTINATION

According to Cowboy State Daily and Colorado Parks and Wildlife, in 1916, Wyoming transported a mere 50 elk to get Colorado's population up and running, again.

FROM WYOMING TO COLORADO, WHERE DID THESE 50 ELK GET TAKEN TO?

It had to be quite a journey: From Wyoming, the elk were taken to two different locations:

• Idaho Springs, south of Rocky Mountain National Park.
• Greenhorn Mountain Range, southwest of Pueblo.

After over 100 years, those 50 elk from Wyoming have turned into the 280,000 strong that Colorado sees today.