|
|
Environmental Issues in Northern Ontario
Elk Restoration in Ontario
Elk Post Release Information
Before releasing the elk into the wild, most elk are fitted with radio-collars that allow for the monitoring of individual animals. The information obtained through radio-tracking helps determine the post-release movements and survival.
Some research and monitoring results:
- Over 80% of adult cows give birth to calves in their new home.
- While some animals have wandered up to 160 km, most stay within 20 km of their release site.
- The length of the holding period and the type of habitat at the release site seem to influence post-release dispersion and survival. A "hard" release was tried, with the animals being let free immediately, or within a few days, upon arrival. "Soft" releases were used afterwards, where the animals were kept in a large enclosure for some weeks to allow them to adjust to their current surroundings before release. This method is very labour and time intensive, as very large enclosures must be built ahead of time, and the animals must be "babysat" around the clock until their release. It is my understanding that the elk do better, with many more calves surviving, with a soft release and therefore this method was continued.
- Causes of elk mortality include post-release stress, wolf and bear predation, collisions with trains/ other vehicles (12 were killed in 1997 on train tracks), drowning by falling through the ice in winter, and poaching.
- Some nuisance elk situations have occurred in agricultural areas.
- To date there has been no evidence of elk congregating in major deer yards.
- Elk introduced to areas with high deer densities and the proximity of agriculture (Bancroft/North Hastings, Lake Huron North Shore), survive and reproduce better than elk introduced to predominantly moose range with little agricultural activity (Lake of The Woods, Nipissing/French River).
|
|
