Woman Trampled to Death by an Elk

You don't live in a Disney movie, where the animals are cute and can talk. Arizona Woman Trampled to Death by an Elk in Her Backyard | Outdoor Life

The victim, who remains unidentified at this time, was alone at her home in the unincorporated community of Pine Lake in the Hualapai Mountains on Oct. 26 while her husband was in nearby Kingman. When he returned home around 6 p.m., he found his wife lying in the backyard with serious injuries. A bucket of spilled dried corn lay nearby.

Officials only found out about this attack after the fact, but have returned to the area to try to discourage others from feeding wildlife.

Five elk attacks have been reported in Arizona in the last five years, but this is thought to be the first fatal encounter. AZGFD chalks up the attack to a human-conditioned elk that had been habituated to food rewards in the community. As is the case with bears and other large mammals, elk can become aggressive toward humans when fed.

Two children were injured in 2015 by an elk seeking food.

Do not feed the animals. Don't pet the shaggy cows in Yellowstone. Don't poke the alligator with a stick.