Watch as herd of elk takes leisurely sunset stroll through a North Carolina city

A herd of elk took a leisurely stroll at sunset through a North Carolina city near the Great Smoky Mountains, TikTok video shows.

The elk took their time as they walked in single file over a bridge in front of Mountain Layers Brewing Company in Bryson City on the evening of May 17, according to a post shared by Explore Bryson City on Facebook.

The video, originally taken by Kelsey Neukum, was later shared by ginasgreatgetaways on TikTok. Neukum could not be reached for comment.

In the video, the sky turns pink behind the mountains as the elk saunter down the road. A passing car slows down to check them out as it drives by.

John Findlay, a bartender at Mountain Layers Brewing Company, told McClatchy News he was not at work the evening the video was taken but said elk are a fairly common sight around the city.

“They literally just come through town,” he said. “They may stop and graze on some grass, but that’s usually about it.”

When asked if he thought the elk were a good addition to the city, he hesitated.

“It kinda jams up traffic,” he said.

The elk population on the East Coast was eradicated by hunting during the 1800s, according to the North Carolina Wildlife Commission. In 2001 and 2002, 52 Manitoban elk were reintroduced to the Cataloochee valley in Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Today, the population has grown to an estimated 150 t0 200 elk, according to the agency.

But even though the elk seem to feel comfortable wandering through human habitat, people are warned not to get too cozy with them.

“We’re told the say as far away from them as possible,” Findlay said.

Great Smoky Mountain National Park is located on the border between North Carolina and Tennessee and is the country’s most-visited national park, according to the National Park Service.

This story was originally published May 25, 2023 at 2:12 PM with the headline "Watch as herd of elk takes leisurely sunset stroll through a North Carolina city."