This bull elk's piercing screech sounds like something right out of a horror film.

Photographer Robert Zambrano managed to capture footage of a herd of elk near El Vado Lake in New Mexico.

The visuals feature the animal's horrifying noise as male elks compete for females during fall.

Zambrano said: "I wanted to get a closer look at these elk feeding in the dry lake bed. I was a little too late as they were already heading my way.

"I quickly got as close to a tree as I could and stood as still as I could.

"There was another bull behind me who caught my scent and took off.

"This big guy finally sees me in mid-bugle. He stares me down for a while, but doesn't leave until his last girlfriend shows up!"

I wanted to get a closer look at these elk feeding in the dry lake bed. I was a little too late as they were already heading my way. I quickly got as close to a tree as I could and stood as still as I could. There was another bull behind me who caught my scent and took off. This big guy finally sees me in mid bugle. He stares me down for awhile, but doesnt leave until his last girlfriend shows up!


Close encounter with screaming bull elk at El Vado Lake in New Mexico