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Elk Overrun Blue Mountains Ranchlands
15 Mar
Summary
- Elk populations are increasingly seen on private lands.
- Factors include forest management, predators, and wildfires.
- Wildlife managers are concerned about declining calf survival rates.
Elk populations are increasingly encroaching on private lands within the Blue Mountains, a region spanning Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. Rancher Shaun Robertson notes the constant presence of elk on his property, attributing it to a lack of safety in their natural habitats. Historically, wildlife managers assumed elk would remain within national forests, but this is no longer the case.
Several forces are compelling elk onto private properties, causing political friction and economic strain. These include evolving forest management practices, heightened predator pressure, and more severe wildfires. President Trump's initiative to increase access to public lands for logging and recreation also contributes to the issue. Biologists are concerned about the declining survival rates of elk calves due to these ongoing changes.
