It’s starting to look like the 20-year decline in elk numbers is coming to an end. This fall, park staff completed a roadside elk count. Because elk are an important food for wolves, the number of elk can have an important effect on the recovery of our caribou populations.
Not only do elk numbers seem to be stabilizing, but the distribution of elk has changed, too.
In the 1998 survey, elk were found distributed in or near town, south of town and along Highway 16 East. Fast forward to 2013 and it appears many elk have moved closer to town, and are now concentrated in this area.
Comparing the data from 1998 and 2013, there are definite indications that there were a lot more elk in 1998, and that there were more elk out of town than in town. In fact, in 1998 only 38 per cent of the females were in the town, compared to 71 per cent in 2013—the other 29 per cent in 2013 were right nearby!
Note: numbers do not include the Rocky River group.
Parks Canada
Special to the Fitzhugh
