Park Service reports about 900 elk in park unit

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MEDORA - A January survey has found an estimated 878 elk in the south unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, more than twice the preferred number but not enough to change the park's environment, park officials say.

Park Superintendent Valerie Naylor said in a statement Monday that the target number of 400 elk in the south unit is conservative.

"That park habitat can support more elk than the target number," Naylor said. "We set our objective conservatively to allow for drought or other poor environmental conditions."

The survey is conducted by air during the winter, when snow cover makes the animals more visible.

Park officials are considering ways to reduce the number of elk. The options include volunteer shooters or relocating elk after checking them for disease, as well as rounding up elk and euthanizing them.

The state Game and Fish Department disagrees with all those options, saying hunters should be able to kill the elk and keep the meat. The Park Service has said Congress does not allow hunting in the park.

Public comments are being taken through March 19.

Naylor said the survey taken Jan. 20-22 found 622 elk in 91 different groups. The estimate is based on a model that includes elk not directly observed, she said.

Naylor said the Game and Fish Department has adjusted hunting seasons outside the park and that has helped keep the elk population in check over the past few years.

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