Elk in Theodore National Park

The Elk in the park has been an issue since the early 1990’s when the numbers of elk were starting to concern officials even then. Within the past year and even month statistics have came out saying that the elk population is now over 3 times the predicted capacity then the park can hold. The main issue with elk in the Theodore National Park is the fact the numbers of elk have grown to over triple of the predicted carrying capacity that the park can hold and the many negative things that will co-inside with the high number of elk. Bill Whitworth, the park's chief of resource management, said Elk have multiplied rapidly in the park because they have few natural predators there and because hunting is not allowed. The animals' winter survival and reproduction rates also have been good. (I will get back to the statement in red later). The herd in Theodore Roosevelt's south unit has grown to as many as 900 or more animals, when the land can sustain only about 360. The main player involved with this issue is the National Park Service (Bill Whitworth), but there are many others, including the ND Game & Fish Department (Terry Steinwand), Colorado Game & Fish, The Rocky Mountain National Park, ranchers around the park, the general public interested in hunting in the park to help alleviate the situation, and ND officials like Gov. Hoeven, Dorgan, and Conrad.

ISSUES AND CONFLICTS
Despite the fact that the National Park Service (NPS) was going to come out with a management plan for the bloated elk population, they soon found out about the many complications associated with their plan. The original plan was a plan in which they would capture many of the elk and relocate them to another part of the United States. This plan will no longer work due to spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)
(CWD INFO.)

The main problem that I have with this whole situation is the fact that the National Park Service will not allow public regulated hunting in the park to end this long time problem. Although the law states that no hunting shall be allowed, they need to make an exception. Don’t get me wrong here, I do not think that any “Joe Smow” should be allowed to hunt there. In order to hunt it should be through a regular lottery drawing as well as a sniper proficiency test because we do not need wounded or hurt elk running through the park and we do not need unsafe people hunting around other people. This is the cheapest and most effective way of taking care of this problem. Basically what I just mentioned is what the ND Game & Fish as well as a huge portion of the public is in support of. (GAME & FISH SUPPORT)


Problems inside the park include Elk taking up a lot of the crucial area that many other animals need to survive and a huge loss of brush and tree vegetation because they are eating it all up. An article in the Bismarck Tribune says that Park officials began considering the use of government and volunteer shooters only after the constant pressure last year from U.S. senators and state wildlife officials in North Dakota and Colorado, where Rocky Mountain National Park also has elk overpopulation problems. At one point, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department refused to participate in the new management plan process for Theodore Roosevelt National Park because of the dispute in which the NPS would not even consider hunters as a solution, but they are now back on board in discussions because the NPS is considering hunting. Whitworth said a final record of decision on park elk management still could come by the end of the year, but it could be pushed back until 2009. So although they are considering the use of hunting it seems like it is going to take even longer for them to evaluate because of this possible alternative. Other problems outside the park are also occurring. According to ranchers who live around the park, they have been waiting for a decision, saying the elk cause problems when they escape the park's fenced boundaries. The Game and Fish Department is proposing more elk licenses in hunting units adjacent to the park, to help deal with the problem, but as of right now event he increased licenses around the park are not enough to combat this problem. (BISMARCK TRIBUNE ARTICLE)


Very recent updates in this story within the last 10 days is the fact that for the first time the Rocky Mountain National Park will allow hunters to come into the park and help solve the same problem that the Theodore National Park is having. Although this is not in direct relationship to the Theodore National Park Problem it should help NPS officials more likely to do the same. (RECENT UPDATES)

Many things dealing with this very hot PR topic deal with what we have been talking about in class. Basically it has been a battle of PR spokespeople between the NPS, The Game & Fish, and the Rocky Mountain National Park. I guarantee all these directors are presenting material the best they can, trying to grab the publics attention, trying to get acceptance, getting people to retain info, and trying to get people to take action. What is your opinion on the right thing to do regarding the overpopulated elk?? By the sounds of it the Game & Fish and the Rocky Mountain National Park are winning the battle. Do you think the NPS will allow hunting in their park?