Five-Year Study To Focus On Elk Movement In Evergreen
Source: http://wildlife.state.co.us/NewsMedia/PressReleases/
Published: Oct. 15, 2010
Evergreen-area residents should expect to begin seeing radio collars on some local elk as DOW biologists imitate a study to better understand elk movement in and around the community.
Beginning in September, the DOW started the process of placing radio collars and ear tags on 17 bull and cow elk in a 75 square mile radius around Evergreen in order to identify their patterns of movement. Monitoring the marked animals will allow DOW to obtain information during the five-year course of the study that will be used to improve elk survey methods and elk management decisions.
DOW is urging hunters to be aware of the ongoing study. While it is legal to harvest a collared elk, hunters should be aware that the meat may be unfit to eat depending on the time that has elapsed between the administration of tranquilizing drugs and harvest.
“We understand that autumn is hunting season,” said Sherri Huwer, area terrestrial biologist. "However, based on the observed movement patterns of the elk we are interested in monitoring, this is the best time of year to collar them.”
DOW decided to undertake the study in response to comments from Evergreen residents concerned about the apparent change in the habits of local elk. Residents have suggested that some elk are concentrating in areas where they are free from hunting and predation, such as in the more settled portions of Evergreen. The elk will be tracked for 5 years, after which time the collars are designed to drop off.
While the presence of elk in these areas has improved opportunities for wildlife viewing by locals, others have expressed concerns to the DOW about damage to landscaping, vehicle collisions and other conflicts that commonly arise when wildlife takes up residence in subdivisions.
If you would like to aid in the study by submitting locations of collared elk, please send the collar ID, date, time and location to dowevergreenelkstudy@state.co.us
TAKE PRECAUTIONS IN ELK COUNTRY
Although they can appear and behave tamely, elk are large, powerful animals which can become aggressive in some situations. During the spring calving season or the fall breeding season or rut, elk may be easily agitated by the presence of humans or pets. The DOW encourages people who live in elk country to take common-sense steps to reduce the risk of accident or injury to themselves or wildlife near residences:
-Keep your distance, for your safety and theirs. If an animal changes its behavior, you are too close!
-Don't let your dog roam. Leash your pet and keep it away from wildlife.
-Disconnect and store water hoses, tomato cages and other gardening materials, such as netting, stakes, ties, etc. until spring, to avoid potential entanglements with antlers.
-Remove volleyball nets from their posts during the winter – don’t wrap nets around the post, as animals may still be enticed to rub their antlers on it and get caught.
-Take down and store hammocks and swings when not in use.
-Flag or remove empty clotheslines until they are needed.
-Consider wildlife-friendly fencing. For more information, please see: http://wildlife.state.co.us/NR/rdonlyres/20D5C775-55DD-4C6D-A5CF-C9B83FCEA69E/0/DOWFencingWithWildlifeInMind.pdf
For more information on living with wildlife, visit: http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/LivingWithWildlife/
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