A large bull elk unexpectedly attended a wedding on the Oregon coast Saturday. The animal jumped over the fence surrounding a private venue in Cannon Beach before the ceremony began, calmly walked across the lawn toward the reception tent and peeked inside, surprising guests and catering staff. Photographer Dan Rice filmed the scene from a safe terrace; by Monday, the video he posted had received about 765,000 views on Instagram. According to the photographer, no one was hurt, and the elk soon left the property on its own and headed back toward the street.
The animal’s appearance became a humorous episode for the wedding party, but such encounters are not unusual in Cannon Beach. Roosevelt elk are North America’s largest elk; bulls can weigh up to 550 kilograms. In December, a herd was spotted on the city’s streets during a small “migration,” and in the spring, the City Council discussed how to regulate the animals’ presence within city limits. According to Rice, the venue’s owner takes a philosophical view of the situation: local residents have to put up with elk and even give up planting certain varieties in their gardens because the animals quickly eat them.
Based on: Elk crashes Cannon Beach wedding in viral video