Video of elk nudging James has spread quickly through Facebook and Twitter . Elk once were populous in the area but were gone from the region by the mid-1800s due to over-hunting and loss of habitat , according to the national park 's website . Elk ` ` displayed an unacceptable risk to human safety , '' national park officials say . Biologists ` ` aggressively tested '' ' 28 times in recent months without success . Animal had a history of ` ` to visitors seeking handouts ''
Video of elk nudging James has spread quickly through Facebook and Twitter . Elk ` ` displayed an unacceptable risk to human safety , '' national park officials say . Biologists ` ` aggressively tested '' ' 28 times in recent months without success . Animal had a history of ` ` to visitors seeking handouts ''