FoCo, I agree 100% that the real root of the issue is overcrowding. I have nothing to say in disagreement with that. I think the point I was trying to make is that the Estes/RMNP situation is a combination of overcrowding and domestication of the elk. As more and more people (especially naive, photo hungry tourists) flock to Estes Park, the elk are getting more and more used to people, which creates a cycle that compounds the issue. The elk are so protected on RMNP that they are losing the fear of people that make them the majestic wild creatures that they are. Overcrowding is an issue all across the western states, but I would argue that there are very few areas where it becomes normal to see a mature bull elk on a sidewalk intermingling with people, as tends to be the norm in Estes. Overcrowding is a huge issue for elk pretty much nationwide, but I still think they are able to retain their wild nature in most other areas where they still feel the pressure from hunting. I was simply observing and stating my opinion that combining overcrowding with domestication of wild herds is creating a specific type of issue in areas like Estes Park, which is why we're seeing more and more videos of a bull elk in the rut being pressured and harassed by hoards of people. If he was the wild, elusive creature that he was meant to be, he would be far away from that sidewalk, taking his aggression out on a tree or another bull.
