Question on KY elk

[TJay]

When did the restoration program begin?

[mcdenney]

Restoration Project

Kentucky began restoring elk in the winter of 1997-98 to counties in the southeastern part of the state. Over the next few years about 1,500 animals were trucked in from Kansas, Utah, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon and Arizona. Today, eastern Kentucky is home to 5,700 free-ranging elk, the largest herd east of the Mississippi River. The goal is to reach a herd size of about 10,000 animals and maintain that population within the zone. In addition to the important achievement of returning a native wildlife species to Kentucky after a 150-year absence, this project offers viewing, as well as hunting opportunities no one alive has ever had in the Bluegrass State.

In collaboration with the University of Kentucky, many different research projects have been completed or are underway to document the elk project, to examine the possible effects of elk on other species, and elk – habitat relationships. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Shikar Safari, University of Kentucky and Cyprus-Amax Coal were among the major partners in this historic effort by the KDFWR.

More information can be found at the KDFWR website.

[TJay]

Wow, that's a great success story. The program has really gone a long way in a short time.

[sirgiovanni]

I have to say that I have really enjoyed the Elk threads and seeing the magnificent Elk being harvested. It's hard to believe that it's happening right here in KY.

[Hellbender]

I heard somewhere that the elk that were imported into Kentucky for the restoration are a different kind of elk than were originally in Kentucky. The restored elk are "Rocky Mountain Elk". I heard we used to have an Elk called the "Eastern Elk". Apparantly the kind that were in Kentucky are extinct now. Does anyone know why they went extinct? Are they really extinct?

I also heard that the restored elk are much larger than the extinct native elk, and that their large size is already having an impact on the land they inhabit. Is this impact on the land positive, negative or not worth worrying about?

So, as the elk herd gets larger, are we going to have overbrowse problems like we already have with deer? What impact might this have on our hardwood forest regeneration?

I may be wrong about this, as I just heard it from someone, but if it is true that the elk are very different than what used to be here, than saying that we are "returning a native wildlife species to Kentucky" seems misleading.

Thanks for helping me understand this better!

[trust me]

You are correct; the native elk are extinct but the Rocky Mtn. is still similar. They are not yet numerous enough to be impacting the environment, anymore than a cow or some deer would.

Are you familiar with the area? If you've been here, then you know just how much forested area these animals have to roam. A few thousand elk aren't hurting anything on a large scale.

[elkguy]

I heard somewhere that the elk that were imported into Kentucky for the restoration are a different kind of elk than were originally in Kentucky. The restored elk are "Rocky Mountain Elk". I heard we used to have an Elk called the "Eastern Elk". Apparantly the kind that were in Kentucky are extinct now. Does anyone know why they went extinct? Are they really extinct? The Eastern elk is extinct and they were shot into extinction by market and subsistence hunters. The last ones disappeared from most of the East by the mid 1800s.

I also heard that the restored elk are much larger than the extinct native elk, and that their large size is already having an impact on the land they inhabit. Is this impact on the land positive, negative or not worth worrying about? Some people think the original eastern elk were actually larger than the Rocky Mountain elk. Also, we are talking about the same species, just a different subspecies. It is like white tailed deer from Wisconsin, South Carolina and Texas. They are all white-tailed deer, they are just different subspecies. As for the impact, yes they will have an impact, a natural impact that has been absent for almost 200 years.

So, as the elk herd gets larger, are we going to have overbrowse problems like we already have with deer? What impact might this have on our hardwood forest regeneration? The jury is still out on this one. Robinson Forest is in the middle of a lot of elk and they are clearcutting some big areas. It will be interesting to see what the elk do in response.

I may be wrong about this, as I just heard it from someone, but if it is true that the elk are very different than what used to be here, than saying that we are "returning a native wildlife species to Kentucky" seems misleading. I don't think there is much difference in what used to be here. There are probably some differences, but it is the same species.

Thanks for helping me understand this better!
I hope I answered some of your questions.

Thanks

Dave