Samson Elk Statue, Estes Park Colorado

It's hard to miss the larger-than-life bronze sculpture of Samson the Elk as you drive into the town of Estes Park, Colorado. A symbol of wildlife conservation, this sculpture was erected at the entrance to town to display the importance of sharing wild and public lands with other creatures.

Samson, a thousand pound bull elk, was poached in town in November of 1995. He has since become the town's mascot and theme of many memorabilia and souvenirs. Samson was a descendant of several hundred elk that were reintroduced from Yellowstone National Park by the government in 1912.

Today elk make up a quarter of Estes Park's population. They walk into homes and buildings, are found in swimming pools, have calves in resident's backyards and driveways. Elk are everywhere in Estes Park so it should be no surprise that residents began to recognize certain elk, gave them names and anticipated their return every year. These neighborhood elk are sometimes referred to as the town bums. So when Samson was poached years ago, it sparked peoples emotions not only within Estes Park, but nationwide. Poaching laws were quickly given greater attention and elk given more respect. Come see the effects Samson had on the small community of Estes Park.