Elk populations in Wyomingâs major herds are nearly 30% over objective, Wyoming Game and Fish Department personnel revealed as their governing commission approved hunting seasons and nearly 2,000 additional licenses Wednesday.
Some 101,800 elk populate the stateâs 28 closely monitored herds, according to the estimates presented in the agencyâs proposed annual hunting-season-setting regulations. Thatâs 28.6% above the objective for those groups.
In addition to the 28 herds for which the agency makes individual population estimates â through trend-count or population-model methods â seven additional herds are managed for landowner/hunter satisfaction and have no numerical objective. Some 8,400 elk made up those seven groups combined last year, Game and Fish estimates.
Jan 2, 2021
JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) Wildlife managers are forging into uncharted territory as they keep feeding elk in the southern Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem while knowing that concentrating thousands of animals on feed will likely exacerbate the spread of the fatal chronic wasting disease.
For the first time biologists also have detailed data showing just how bunched up elk are on northwest Wyoming’s historic feedgrounds as a result of doling out alfalfa pellets and hay during the harshest months of the year.
“Basically, elk contact rates were 2.6 times higher during the feed season,” National Elk Refuge Senior Biologist Eric Cole said. “During feeding operations themselves when elk are actively being fed we commonly have elk in densities of 1,000 elk per square kilometer.”
Elk fed amid concern about spread of chronic wasting disease starherald.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from starherald.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Elk fed amid concern about spread of chronic wasting disease fairfieldcitizenonline.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from fairfieldcitizenonline.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.