A herd of elk found some short-term grazing grounds in northwest Lakewood on Monday morning, prompting temporary caution for folks near Union Ridge Park.<\/p>\n
The Lakewood Police Department posted photos on social media<\/a> of about 10 of the animals munching on grass in the park, at 500 Zang St. By about noon, the animals had moved on.<\/p>\n The herd\u2019s bull appeared \u201cagitated,\u201d and the department asked people to avoid the area until the animals relocated. Lakewood Animal Control was overseeing the herd.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile this herd certainly is beautiful, they can also pose a risk to humans that get too close,\u201d the department wrote on X.<\/p>\n Kara Van Hoose, a spokesperson for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, said it\u2019s not common for elk to wander that far into the metro area, but it\u2019s also not unheard of<\/a>. A few of the animals typically find their way that far east every year.<\/p>\n CPW did not have plans to intervene with the animals as of Monday morning.<\/p>\n The herd likely wandered in from Green Mountain through some of the green spaces in the area.<\/p>\n Van Hoose likewise warned folks to keep their distance and keep pets on a leash. The elk are in rut, making their behavior a bit more unpredictable and aggressive, she said.<\/p>\n