Planning For The Future
When the first elk were released into Cataloochee Valley in 2001, the project was considered an experiment that would last 5 years, during which time researchers would gather and analyze the data necessary to make long-term projections about the herd’s success or failure in the Smoky Mountains. When the data was analyzed at the end of those 5 years there was an incredible amount of information that was learned about the herd, including home ranges, dietary composition, survival and reproductive rates, what impacts they were having on park resources, and much more.
However, since the park only received 2 groups of elk to release rather than the recommended 3 groups, the herd remained small and showed slow growth over those years. This also meant that the data analysis was very susceptible to slight changes in the herd. One way to increase the confidence and accuracy of the analysis was to extend the experimental phase an additional 3 years. This allowed for continued monitoring and research, with a new analysis of the herd’s long-term viability at the end of that experimental extension phase, which took place during 2009. This analysis showed a favorable projection for the elk herd’s potential future growth in and around the park.
With all of the previous research and management activities in mind, the park is shifting its focus on the herd from an experimental phase to a long-term management strategy. As part of this planning, the park has prepared a new Environmental Assessment and Management Plan that outlines the elk project, as well as presents several alternatives for future elk management. One alternative is to continue the intensive research and monitoring that has taken place since the beginning of the project. The second, and the park’s preferred alternative of Adaptive Management, allows for a more selective and adaptive research and management approach that will be less invasive for the herd along with allowing park staff to better address possible impacts in the future..
The Environmental Assessment and Managemen Plan are available for public review and comment for a 30-day period. If you would like to review the plans and provide comment to the park, the information can be found online at: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/grsm
Or comments can be submitted by mail to the following address:
Superintendent
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
107 Park Headquarters Road
Gatlinburg, Tennessee 37738
All comments should be received by the Park no later than September 27, 2010 for consideration. Please be aware that the comments provided, as well as personally identifying information related to the comments may be made publicly available.
Smoky Mountain Elk Herd News
There has been a lot of activity around the elk herd since last update. In November 2009 Bull #21 was shot by a poacher in Cataloochee Valley. This bull was relocated to the park from Land Between the Lakes and was one of the very first elk released into Cataloochee Valley in 2001. Number 21 was a highly visible bull that would often be seen near the Ranger Station or Palmer House in Cataloochee and provided a lot of bugling and fighting that crowds could witness during the fall rut. In July the poacher pled guilty to unlawfully shooting the elk and was sentenced to 150 days imprisonment and fined $8,384 in restitution costs. His rifle was also seized, which was autographed by Richard Petty, he lost his hunting license for two years, and has been banned from the Great Smoky Mountains and all other National Parks for two years.
On a lighter note, there has only been one documented mortality of an adult elk in 2010 so far! The animal that died was Cow #93, a 4-year old female that had a history of health problems and had a physical anomaly that would have prevented her from ever reproducing and having a calf. Her health would fluctuate throughout the year and in March she was found dead near the Rough Fork Trailhead in Cataloochee. While losing animals can be hard for such a small herd, this was the only elk lost so this year far which makes 2010 the best year for adult elk survival since the start of the program!
Another extremely positive sign for the program has been the success of calving season this year. To date, 25 calves are confirmed to have been born this year. Park personnel are able to track the fates of 17 of those calves, and so far all 17 have survived! Having that many calves and a survival rate of 100% makes 2010 the best year for herd recruitment so far! This is also a very good indication that adult females have learned how to hide and defend their calves better against predators. Of the 17 trackable calves, at least 7 are female, 4 are male, and the sex of the others has yet to be determined.
While the rut probably won’t be in full swing for another couple of weeks, things are starting to pick up around Cataloochee. The bulls in Cataloochee have all lost their velvet and several have begun to bugle and pursue cows. The bulls that have been dominant for the past three years, #’s 3, 16, and 67, have all returned to Cataloochee and have been bugling and raking trees most afternoons.
If you come to the Smoky Mountains to view elk this fall, please remember a few things to help make your visit a more enjoyable and safe one.
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Bring binoculars and zoom lenses. This allows for great viewing and photos from a safe distance.
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Be very mindful of your food scraps and please clean up after yourself. This helps eliminate the chances of an elk becoming conditioned to human food, which usually leads to the demise of the animal.
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Stay in or near your vehicle when the elk are out, and please pull off to the side of the road to allow traffic to continue around you.
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Be patient! This allows everyone to have a better experience of Cataloochee, at a Cataloochee pace!
Joe Yarkovich
Elk Management
