Elk Vs Agriculture

[chrisb]

Letter from Rep, Dan Kristiansen:

Dear Friends and Neighbors:

As some of you may know, we have an elk problem in east Skagit County that is threatening to spread to parts of northern Snohomish County. In short, the number of elk in these areas has grown over the last decade due to a plan implemented by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) in 2003. It is not just the number of elk, but where they are choosing to graze. These animals are damaging private property, destroying crops and farmland, leaving messes behind and finding their way onto our roadways. Many of those impacted are financially burdened, frustrated with WDFW’s response and worried that the problem is escalating. I empathize with those who are being affected and want them to have more options. I also believe WDFW needs to be held accountable for its past and future decisions. To learn more about this issue, please take a look below at an advanced copy of an opinion piece I submitted to a local newspaper this week.

In your service,

Dan Kristiansen
State Representative
39th Legislative District
 

Elk vs. Agriculture

Part of being a Washingtonian is an appreciation for the outdoors and wildlife. Each of us can likely recall a time when we encountered a memorable vista or an animal in the wild.

I remember a time when my wife and I were hiking and we heard a rustle in the heavy brush. A few seconds later, a large elk emerged just 30 feet from us. Close to 20 animals, one-after-one, walked in front us – not knowing we were there. We will never forget that feeling.

Elk continue to be an important part of our ecosystem and wildlife landscape. Unfortunately, when their population swells in certain areas, it can be destructive, costly, unhealthy and even dangerous.

In recent history, this is the situation property owners, farmers and drivers in east Skagit County have found themselves in – and the problem is getting worse. In fact, it could spread to the northern part of Snohomish County.

This is a problem the state helped create – and a problem the state must now solve.

You might be wondering, how did we arrive at this situation?

In 2003, the North Cascades elk herd in our state was struggling and estimated at only 300 animals. That year, the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) – without approval from the Legislature – implemented a plan to relocate 41 of these elk from the Mount St. Helens Wildlife Area to sites along the South Fork of the Nooksack River. The number of that herd is estimated at 1,200 today, but WDFW’s population objective is 1,950 animals.

Unfortunately, the good intentions of WDFW have resulted in bad outcomes in east Skagit County. And now the state agency wants the Legislature to pay for the problem.

The problem is not just the number of elk, but where they are choosing to graze in east Skagit County. They are inundating local properties, farmland and roadways – destroying property such as fences, eating grass designated for cattle, defecating on farmland, and making certain roadways such as Highway 20 dangerous at times. They are also threatening our communities’ “grown locally” way of life.

As you would expect, this has left people who have been adversely affected frustrated, scared and financially burdened. I represent many of these people in the state House of Representatives.

To the WDFW’s credit, it is listening to those who have been impacted and held public forums. The state agency also hired a full-time wildlife conflict specialist recently to work on the issue.

But there is a time to talk – and a time to act. And now is the time to act.

No one is suggesting this is a simple problem. Complex problems require comprehensive solutions.

Our communities need a comprehensive management strategy from WDFW that ensures problem elk are dealt with immediately in the short term, including providing impacted people with more options, and that these elk stay on higher ground in the long run.

There is a clear nexus between the plan implemented by WDFW in 2003 and the problem east Skagit County faces today. Since the state helped create this problem, it should fairly compensate people who have been hurt financially by these decisions. Funding is in place to help with some of the compensation for those who have been burdened, but we must ensure this process is not too cumbersome or time consuming.

Most importantly, these people need to be assured that current elk problems will never again happen in the future.

WDFW says progress is being made, but the problem is not solved yet. It is the responsibility of the Legislature – and the governor – to hold the state agency accountable.

Our area of the state is blessed with natural beauty. The intersection of our foothills and fertile farmlands makes us the envy of the state – if not the nation. We just need to make sure this intersection is clear of wildlife problems that threaten people’s property, finances and safety.

[boneaddict]

I say relocate the remaining member of the lookout pack.   

[pianoman9701]

You aint seen nothing yet. Wait until there are wolves up in those hills.

[SemperFidelis97]

Something tells me when that does happen we may actually see enough of a public outcry to get a real wolf management plan.

[WAbowhntr]

tag

[nwwanderer]

Nothing new here.  I can tell the same stories starting about 90 years ago, I am a third generation elk/ag interaction witness.  Would be fun to have a predator pit on the Skagit.  Probably can not be stopped.  Stay tuned.

[TommyH]

If you own a business say a grocery store, you the owner pay for a door/locks/alarm system to deter theft or vandalism to you business/investment. I am not familiar with the area or the problems they are having but have heard the same from where I am from and I have always thought they "farmers" should protect there investment themselves. I want more elk in our area. Its a resource for all of us. Farmers complaining, saying how they lost thousands of dallors from elk grazing on there farms, build a fence that will keep them out!! Allow hunters to reduce that burden on you I would gladly help you out.

[et1702]

Somebody needs to vote this Bozo out of office!

ET

[nwwanderer]

Priced much fence lately?  They often exceed the value of open field agriculture.  So, I should get help from the department for my fence?  Ever sign your life away?  Not trying to be nasty, just a situation without a simple solution. 

[Elkaholic daWg]

Somebody needs to vote this Bozo out of office!

ET

And end up with what? A Dunshee clone?
 

If you own a business say a grocery store, you the owner pay for a door/locks/alarm system to deter theft or vandalism to you business/investment. I am not familiar with the area or the problems they are having but have heard the same from where I am from and I have always thought they "farmers" should protect there investment themselves. I want more elk in our area. Its a resource for all of us. Farmers complaining, saying how they lost thousands of dallors from elk grazing on there farms, build a fence that will keep them out!! Allow hunters to reduce that burden on you I would gladly help you out.

 You have a much better chance of Rep Kristiansen supporting your solution to the burden than 95+% of all reps from pugetropolis. 

Anyone remember what happened a while back when they allowed bowhunters to try?

[Boss .300 winmag]

Somebody needs to vote this Bozo out of office!

ET

No! We need help in our area with to DAMN many elk and he is trying to help us! So he is a bozo for that? 

[headshot5]

they "farmers" should protect there investment themselves

.

I'm sure the farmers would be more than glad to protect their investment themselves.  However, WDFW and the public frowns on farmers shooting intruders (elk) for the most part.  Fencing is indeed cost prohibitive for the most part for an elkproof fence (think of the height of the the fences along I-90.  Then, if the farmer allows a bunch of hunters in there, they run the elk through the regular fences, and tear up the fields with 6" deep hoof tracks in soft (rainy season) fields.

Either way the farmers get the shaft by the elk, or by the public.  Not really a happy solution on either side.  Remember the elk are destroying the farmers livlihood, and the farmers hands are bound by WDFW (for the most part), and condemned by the Public for wanting the elk eradicated, or permission to do what is necessary. 

If the elk belong to you and me (as I hear all the time) then maybe they should pitch in for the fence, or stand back and let the farmers use the means necessary on their property.

No I don't think the elk need to be wiped out, but I do think the farmers get the short end of the stick regardless.           

     

[MacAttack]

tag

[HawkCreek]

Priced much fence lately?  They often exceed the value of open field agriculture.  So, I should get help from the department for my fence?  Ever sign your life away?  Not trying to be nasty, just a situation without a simple solution.

they "farmers" should protect there investment themselves

.

I'm sure the farmers would be more than glad to protect their investment themselves.  However, WDFW and the public frowns on farmers shooting intruders (elk) for the most part.  Fencing is indeed cost prohibitive for the most part for an elkproof fence (think of the height of the the fences along I-90.  Then, if the farmer allows a bunch of hunters in there, they run the elk through the regular fences, and tear up the fields with 6" deep hoof tracks in soft (rainy season) fields.

Either way the farmers get the shaft by the elk, or by the public.  Not really a happy solution on either side.  Remember the elk are destroying the farmers livlihood, and the farmers hands are bound by WDFW (for the most part), and condemned by the Public for wanting the elk eradicated, or permission to do what is necessary. 

If the elk belong to you and me (as I hear all the time) then maybe they should pitch in for the fence, or stand back and let the farmers use the means necessary on their property.

No I don't think the elk need to be wiped out, but I do think the farmers get the short end of the stick regardless.           

     

QFT

Everyone wants game animals to be abundant (myself included) but nobody except the farmer/rancher types deal with them year round. I know more than a few guys that go out every night all season (growing) long and do what they can to scare deer off their alfalfa. If it was even borderline legal I know they would shoot them just to thin them out. These animals come back night after night and the closest one has about 10-15 relatives a year come hunt. Does nothing for the deer destroying his crops.

[Humptulips]

So I take it he lets his relatives hunt but not the general public. Kind of lost any sympathy I may have had.