Whether elk will permanently roam Great Smoky Mountains National Park is still undecided, but according to Park biologist Kim DeLozier, there have been some surprising rewards reaped during the six years of an experimental release program.
One of my favorite places to visit in North Carolina is the Cataloochee Valley part of the Great Smokey Mountain National Park. I was up there in September and got to hear my first elk bugle. The Mountain Press has a story about the elk in the valley and the boom to the area they are.
The herd in the Cataloochee Valley on the North Carolina side of the Park now numbers 65 to 70 elk. Biologists have loved learning how they live and their impact on other animals and plants in the Park.
But the biggest bonus, according to DeLozier, may be how people have reacted to the presence of elk in the Smokies.“The (elk release) has become a people project, and the reaction of both the local and visiting public has been very positive,” said DeLozier, noting that thousands more people visit the valley each year than ever before, and they come to see the elk. Additionally, initial concerns among residents surrounding the Park about the elk spreading diseases and damaging property have all but evaporated.
I hope that the herd continues to grow and although I understand the risks with bringing more in but I wish more from a disease free area could be brought in. Some other posts I’ve had on this topic.
Jul 06 Elk Update / The Births
