WI Elk Herd Update

[Cooter]

A couple hundred more wolves around here would really help:

Clam Lake Elk Herd Updates

Third Quarter— July – September 2009

Current Status: At the end of June we estimated that there were 153 elk in the herd, 81 with functioning radio collars. During the third quarter of 2009 we experienced 8 verified mortalities (6 by wolves, 1 vehicle collision, and 1 unknown). These were 5 calves, 1 yearling cow, 1 two year old cow and one old, original cow (Cow 22, about 18 years old). Extrapolating these losses proportionately by mortality type and age class, and considering productivity this calving season, results in a net population estimate of 142 elk. Balancing losses with additional collared animals, we currently have 73 elk with functioning radio collars.

On-Going Elk Research: On the ELF Line forage quality project we conducted a second plant composition survey and measured biomass production on the 3 study sites. We’ve begun processing our data and will continue in the next quarter. In the next quarter we’ll continue to process and analyze our results, and submit forage samples for nutrition analysis to the state lab.

2009 Bugling Season: We received reports from Clam Lake locals that the bulls began bugling on August 25th. Project staff heard their first bugle on August 27th. During the first week of September we did have high temperatures from the low 80s to the low 90s. During the rest of the month high temperatures ranged from the low 50s to mid 70s. Night time lows, after the first week, ranged from 24 to 68 degrees with most in the 40s range…nice and cool for rutting bulls.

Bull activity and bugling was higher than normal this year. Most everyone who accompanied elk project staff on presentations at least heard several bulls and many saw elk. Elk monitoring revealed that there were 12 to 14 harems this year, up from last year (about 10 harems in 2008), and observed elk indicated increased numbers of satellite and sub-adult bulls—a higher bull to cow ratio. This is due to the shift in wolf predation on cows. We’re hoping that cool September nights promoted efficient conception and results in an early and quick calving season in 2010. Spring conditions in 2010 will also influence the 2010 calving season.

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Partnerships: We continue to provide support to UWSP and USFS on their elk related projects. Special thanks to the Tomahawk Friends of Elk for their donation of 3 Cuddeback NoFlash infrared trail cameras! Special thanks to Jeff Morden for his engineering, design and welding skills for improvements to the elk trap triggering system, the trap transfer tub and elk chute improvements! Big thanks to Bud Rubeck and the Clam Lake Community Club for their improvements and construction of the Elk Information Kiosk at the community park Elk Display in Clam Lake (20% of the project costs). Bigthanks to Fred Lochner and his company, Imperial Media, for the development and installation of the kiosk, and donation of 40% of the kiosk development and machinery costs. Furthermore, a big thanks to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation for funding the other 40% of the kiosk machinery and materials.

Elk Health: This quarter we had verified losses of 8 elk (6 wolves, 1 vehicle, and 1 unknown). Prior to this year the previous high quarterly observed loss was 9 during the first quarter of 2005. So far in 2009 we had 11 observed losses during the 2nd quarter and 8 during the 3rd quarter. As of the end of September we’ve observed 60% calf mortality (normally it takes us 12 months to lose 50%), and 16 verified mortalities. We’re on track to have record losses this Elk Year.

Detailed in the previous quarterly report were the 3 late third trimester pregnant cows killed in early May. We reported that these were the first such kills in the 14 years Wisconsin has had elk. However, we observed another first during the 3rd quarter. In July we had 2 one month old and 1 two month old calves killed by wolves. Prior to 2009 the earliest calf kill observed was 4.5 months old in October of 2008. Usually wolves have waited until calves are 8 to 11 months old and larger than an adult white-tailed deer before they begin taking them as prey. Apparently that’s no longer the case. Furthermore, up to 18 months ago 80% of elk killed were males. Up to 7 months ago that changed to 50% malesand 50% females. During the past 7 months it’s changed to 33% males and 67% females.

Also of note was F275 who was killed on July 20 in a vehicle collision. F275 was 49 days old and already weighed 95 pounds, gaining more than a pound a day since her birth on June 1st when she weighed 41 pounds at 3 days old. She was killed within 100 yards of a flashing elk crossing warning light. Her weight gain indicates high quality forage for her lactating mother, and that we continue to have irresponsible motorists ignore the elk crossing warning lights.

Monitoring and Education: During this quarter we made 916 telemetry location determinations and 1,952 telemetry mortality checks. During this quarter we gave 10 elk presentations to a total of 354 participants. We also gave 3 print and 2 radio interviews. The new elk display was set up during the Central Wisconsin State Fair and the Tomah RMEF Banquet.

Upcoming Events: We’ll be continuing work on the ELF Line forage fertilization pilot project, monitoring the 73 elk currently with working radio collars, submitting permit applications to DOT for expansion of the motorist warning system, developing recommendations for promoting continued population growth, and initiating winter elk collaring.

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Need Your Help: DNR Conservation Wardens are currently investigating the finding at 2 separate sites the disposal of 3 elk hides and the shooting of a bull during the gun deer season. It is not certain yet whether the hides are from the Clam Lake herd or from elk harvested out of state. The hides were found under the CTH "M" bridge over the Namekagon River east of Cable and off Dam Road (FR 1730) between Lake Namekagon and Cable. The hunter-shot bull elk incident allegedly occurred west of Clam Lake. If anyone has information about these cases please contact Sue Miller at 715-634-9658 ext. 3516 or the DNR TIPS line at 1-800-847-9367.

Laine Stowell & Matt McKay

Download a printer friendly version [PDF 430KB] of this update.

[GatorBait]

A couple hundred more wolves around here would really help:

Ya, ain't that the truth.

[Nate McVey]

Quote:

A couple hundred more wolves around here would really help:

I hope I'm picking up a ton of sarcasm in that

[jeffreyd]

i have been biting my tongue hard. hoping that is was simply a sarcastic post.

[Cooter]

100% sarcasm - raising some spendy wolf food up by Clam Lake.

[Nate McVey]

100% sarcasm - raising some spendy wolf food up by Clam Lake.

I knew you were, just wanted to make sure everyone else did

Sure would be nice to have an elk season in WI in a few years....

[Cooter]

You would think they could do some wolf hunting/trapping in the Clam L area just to give the elk a chance to expand.

[klecker]

I thought the original plan was to have a season once the herd got to either 120 or 150. For some reason I want to say it was 120. I believe I read that one tag would go to the rocky mtn elk fed for raffle(1st hunt), one to a resident then one to claim lake tribe. Taking 1-2 bulls a year and a cow or two would not hurt the pop. The rmef usually gets on of the first tags in many states that reestablished an elk herd for all their efforts and money put into the programs.

[Cooter]

4th qtr of '09 update:

Current Status: At the end of September we estimated that there were 142 elk in the herd, 73 with

functioning radio collars. During the fourth quarter of 2009 we had 2 verified mortalities and 1 reported but

unverified (a young bull) allegedly shot by hunters. Also during this quarter we had 2 break-away bull calf

collars release, allowing the collars to drop off. This is a designed function of these collars to prevent harm to

bulls whose necks grow fast and large. We currently estimated the elk herd at 139 elk. We currently have 71

elk with functioning radio collars.

Elk Research on the Clam Lake Herd: During

the next quarter the University of Wisconsin-

Stevens Point (UWSP) will initiate a population

genetics study of the Clam Lake Elk herd. In

anticipation of this study, DNR began collecting

hair samples from captured calves during the 2009

calving season, and will cooperate with researchers

during upcoming elk trapping and calf searching

efforts. The WDNR will also provide UWSP

access to archived tissue samples from known Clam

Lake elk. The primary goal of this research is to

provide baseline information for future planning

and management decisions regarding this herd. We

are continuing to process and analyze our data from

the forage quality pilot study.

Elk Health Issues: This quarter we lost 2 elk (1 vehicle collision and 1 unknown).

We received a call from the Sawyer County Sherriff’s Department on the morning

of November 9th. An unmarked male calf was hit on Highway 77 near the

intersection with Forest Road 208. We’ve assigned elk number M265 to said calf.

Other than the trauma from being hit, he was in excellent physical condition and

above average in size. He was located about mid-way between warning lights

within the motorist elk crossing warning sign system. Though M265 did not have a

collar himself, he would have been in a cow/calf group with several collared

animals. The lights were flashing when we arrived at the scene.

On December 8th elk project staff received a mortality signal for M249 (a yearling,

spike bull). The spike was found whole with no obvious trauma and was not

scavenged. Staff did a field necropsy and collected tissue samples for the wildlife

pathologist. At the present cause of death is unknown.

Law enforcement is investigating a bull reported shot during the gun deer season.

Anyone with information regarding this shooting incident should contact

Conservation Warden Susan Miller at 715-634-9658, extension 3516.

Partnerships: We continue to provide support to UWSP and USFS on their elk

related projects. We participated with the Great Divide District’s field tour and

open house regarding their management review of the “Twin Ghosts Project”. We

also developed elk related recommendations for the Department’s collective input

into this project. They included reinforcement of the Department’s position for

seasonal and permanent closures to protect elk calving and wintering areas,

including a request for gating of FR 1265A from all motorized access, including

snowmobiles; increase the percentage of aspen habitat in the 0-10 year age class

from the current 2 percent to 15-25 percent according to the overall CNNF Forest

Plan within the elk project area; requested continued maintenance of forest

openings, including the ELF Line, within the Elk Range; and reiterated our

recommendation that timber harvests be limited to within a quarter to half mile from

STH 77 in order to prevent elk vehicle collisions.

Elk Education and Monitoring: During this quarter we made 806 telemetry

location determinations and 1,739 telemetry mortality checks.

During this quarter we gave 2 elk presentations to a total of 271 participants. We

also gave 2 print and 1 radio interviews.

For More

Information About

Elk In Wisconsin,

Please Contact….

Laine Stowell

WI DNR

10220 State Hwy 27

Hayward, WI 54843

715-634-9658 x 3527

Or on our Web Site

at:

http://dnr.wi.gov/org

/land/wildlife/Elk

[klecker]

I am starting to wonder if the dnr can even count?

So in the thrid qtr they had 153 elk. 8 verified mortalities.

So now we have 145. Then in the thrid qtr we have 142. with 3 mortalities. Now 139. What happened with the ones between 142 and 145.

I know its a small number but what happened to them??