The real culprit of Elk decline

[JimmyHoffa]

There used to be a pretty big elk herd in Sequim.  The herd stopped migrating back into the hills and just figured they would stay--better food, fewer cats.  They didn't mind walkers, bicycles, tractors, golfers, etc.  Their numbers were really taking off as lots of calves were born.  They didn't start running and really breaking a bunch of stuff until the 'selfie' crowd started messing with them.  People would post where they were on Facebook and then others would show up at that location and have people and their little kids chasing them around while trying to get right up next to them for selfies.  The elk started running more and breaking more fences, with WDFW getting the bill for damage.  WDFW finally just decided to eliminate the herd.  They killed all but about twenty and figured they no longer have enough genetic spread to survive and will die off in a few years.

[Bob33]

I don't know to what extent hikers impact wildlife but I wouldn't dismiss a study that indicates they do without further information. There are numerous studies which indicate roads impact wildlife habits.

It is interesting how people want science based management of wildlife until the science disagrees with their preconceived perceptions of what the conclusions should be.

[farmin4u_98948]

Soooo. If the calf mortality rate goes up because the elk are moved more by increased traffic   Seems kinda obvious that Predators would have the same affect. Guess what. There is an example for that. The cattle ranchers in the Wallowa area have experienced this same effect.

[Mudman]

Yet I drive to work and see elk being born in farmers field less than 1 mile from High school and next to busy state hiway.  Hmm.  I go hunt and cant find elk because they have moved to safer pastures.  I guess these Vail elk are as stupid as the hippies hugging the trees.  Good points I get it but I say its all over thunk crap.  There is a real reason elk declined and I doubt very much its cause they refuse to move!  Yellowstone lost 70% elk to same reasons?  Nope.  Idiots protecting wildlife caused the decline by supporting predators.  Like Wa state.  The 1 common denominator is liberals and predator laws.  That's it.  We should use their argument made to support removing predators who are doing much worse than hikers and cameras. 

[Karl Blanchard]

Ok if its predators though then why is it an issue unique to Vail and similar areas and not all of Colorado? Elk populations are flourishing and exploding all over CO but these specific isolated areas and instances are the opposite? No wolves, and no more cats and bears as anywhere else in CO so the its predator not man argument doesnt hold water. At least no more than the argument that its hikers. Let's call a spade a spade at least.

[2MANY]

There is no doubt man should be locked out of all winter ranges when animals are weak and vulnerable.
There was a time when this was common sense, but sense is no longer common when the city folk head to the country.

[The Marquis]

This reminds me of the impact Christian Rock concerts seem to be having on the elk population in the Rimrock Unit.   

[bigtex]

It is interesting how people want science based management of wildlife until the science disagrees with their preconceived perceptions of what the conclusions should be.

Everybody is their own master wildlife biologist 

[ghosthunter]

Well I think wildlife are bothered by humans in some places.

But elk seem to adapt. Look at the Skagit Valley Nooksack herd. They live almost their entire life a stones throw form every form of human contact. Houses, barking dogs, loose dogs, traffic, anything you can think of.

Heck if it were legal you could kill them with a bow from your car. 

[2MANY]

This reminds me of the impact Christian Rock concerts seem to be having on the elk population in the Rimrock Unit.   

Christian rock should be outlawed.

[idaho guy]

Must be why the best recruitment in the Methow are the deer in town, or could it be because those are the only ones safe from sharp teeth.  Science is cool, agendas are *censored*

Exactly.  Elk in our areas are now crowded as close as possible to civilization.  Huge areas way back in are empty, and it's directly because of predators.  Used to walk a ridge line and hear bugles in every little basin.  Now you'll find an elk about once every ten basins.  Yet, my family has lived at the base of a mountain with no road or trail access backed against national Forest for 30 years and it wasn't until wolves that the elk started hanging around the barn year round.  They prefer our ATVs, dogs, yells, gunshots, etc to what's going on back up in the wild country.

     

  exactly what has happened around my place. The elk all moved TOO town and around people dogs cars etc. Remote perfect habitat I used to always hunt very few elk around now hmmmm? what am I missing

[Mudman]

Ok if its predators though then why is it an issue unique to Vail and similar areas and not all of Colorado? Elk populations are flourishing and exploding all over CO but these specific isolated areas and instances are the opposite? No wolves, and no more cats and bears as anywhere else in CO so the its predator not man argument doesnt hold water. At least no more than the argument that its hikers. Let's call a spade a spade at least.

Here is a thought to consider, maybe the elk just left??  To one of those areas you refer to that has a "Booming" population?  Maybe some Quack college professor who did 1 study years ago isn't as smart as some think?  Maybe the greenies just want more wildlife running round their ski lodge to bring in more hikers?

[Platensek-po]

What makes this professor a quack?? Since we are going to discredit someone’s work I would like to see proof that his study is flawed in the scientific method or purposefully skewed. Otherwise you are making assumptions about someone based on the fact that you don’t like their objective findings because it doesn’t fit the narrative that predators are the cause of all wildlife woes. Humans are the number 1 reason for all wildlife declines in the last 2 hundred years.

[Mudman]

Debbie Sklar wrote this article.  Who is she???  A survey in the 1980's is the basis for this judgement 35 years later??  He had people directly walk into calving areas to come up with his calf death mortality rates??  A 30% mortality rate resulted in a 90% drop in population??  Which started around 2005?  35 years later??  "Wildlife Managers say"  WHo the heck are these anonomous people, do they have a name?  Are they even real? Bill ALdregde just states he Believes, no science backing him up.  Bill Andree uses a 35 year old idiotic experiment to support his claim.  JUNK SCIENCE!!!  Cmon man, really?  No bear problem?  Link is from 2012 same area.  Truth is people growth in the valleys is what decreases the feed.  Elk migrate down with snow right?  Mule deer went in tank too.  Is that from people hiking as well??  Laughable.   https://denver.cbslocal.com/2012/09/05/some-high-country-towns-seeing-500-percent-increase-in-bears/

[Cougartail]

WDFW has collared many different Elk in the Yakima herd. You can find them spread out around the region but most are at the top of the cascades far away from people and their activities until the snow flies. There are probably a whole host of reasons most prefer the high elevation remote locations but one must realize the bears and cougars are thick up there too.

If any of the keyboard biologists bothered to get of there seats and hike in 10 miles they might learn something..

Humans have become so far removed from survival off the land yet want to apply their biases to animals.