ASHEVILLE, N.C., Nov. 19 (UPI) -- A young elk was euthanized after the animal attacked a man in the Smoky Mountains National Park in Asheville, N.C., last week, park officials said.
Tennessee blogger Vince M. Camiolo captured the incident on camera.
Park officials said the YouTube video helped them decide to euthanize the animal, which had a history of unmanageable behavior.
The video showed photographer James York sitting beside a road in the park as the elk repeatedly attacked him with its antlers and headbutted him.
York, who suffered abrasions to his head but wasn't seriously injured, told NBC News he didn't approach the elk and had been sitting in the spot for an hour.
"It was a no-win situation for the park," York said. "If they hadn't put him down the park would be liable. I think [the elk] was a problem waiting to happen."
Dana Soehn, a spokeswoman for the park, said the incident marks the first time the park has had to euthanize an elk.
