15 States Get Elk Research Funding

Seeking to further elk-related scientific knowledge for the overall benefit of the species, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation so far allocated $846,443 for research in 2020. Those funds leveraged an additional $4,771,734 in partner dollars.

“We need to continually accumulate all the accurate, scientific data we can in order to further our mission of ensuring the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat and our hunting heritage,” said Blake Henning, RMEF chief conservation officer. “Supporting and working alongside respected biologists and scientists from many different state agencies, universities and other organizations across the country helps us do that.”

The funding supports 30 different research projects in Arizona (1), California (4), Colorado (4), Kentucky (1), Michigan (1), Montana (3), New Mexico (1), North Carolina (3), Oregon (2), Pennsylvania (1), South Dakota (1), Utah (2), Washington (1), Wisconsin (1) and Wyoming (4). Funding allocated to Arizona and New Mexico is for the same project. There is one additional project of national benefit.

Below are a few examples of RMEF’s 2020 research projects.

Arizona & New Mexico      

• Elk habitat use & predation study in the Blue Range Mexican Wolf Recovery Area

California                              

• Northern California population size & demographic study

Colorado                              

• Elk recruitment study

Kentucky                             

• Calf survival & cause of mortality study

Michigan                               

• Effects of ungulate browse on aspen tree stands

Montana                               

• Elk brucellosis surveillance in Bangtail & Ruby Mountains

North Carolina                    

• Great Smoky Mountains National Park monitoring & management

Oregon                                 

• Herd movement & survival monitoring

Pennsylvania                       

• Elk calving timing & calf survival study

South Dakota                      

• Black Hills herd & deer abundance, composition & fall distribution

Utah                                      

• Identify & protect migration corridors, priority areas & habitat ranges

Washington                         

• Stemilt-Squilchuck Basin herd movement study

Wisconsin                             

• Determine the values of managed forest openings for elk

Wyoming                              

• Elk & human dominated areas habituation study

National                                

• Retrospective assessment of wildlife response to habitat treatments in the Northern Rocky Mountains

Source: Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation