Arizona Game and Fish Department Confirms First Fatal Elk Attack in State’s History

Wildlife officials in Arizona have confirmed the first fatal elk attack in the state’s history, after an unnamed woman died eight days after being trampled by an elk near her home in the remote Pine Lake community in the Hualapai Mountains.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department said in a statement that the woman’s husband found her on the ground in the couple’s back yard at 6 p.m. on October 26, “with injuries consistent with being trampled by an elk.” She was taken to a local hospital and then transferred to Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas, according to the department.

The department said it was believed to be the first fatal elk attack in the state’s history. Nearby was a bucket of spilled corn nearby, the department said, prompting it to repeat long-standing warnings about the dangers of feeding wild animals.

“Feeding wildlife, including elk, is illegal in Arizona and can lead to dangerous situations like this,” the department said in a statement. “Feeding wildlife can cause them to become aggressive and habituated to humans, and can lead to property damage, injury, and death.”

The department said there have been five elk attacks recorded in the last five years, but this is the first fatal attack. It is urging people to take precautions when they encounter elk, such as keeping their distance and not approaching the animals.