The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1911-09-22
OVERRUi BY ELK HERDS
Animals pecone Menace In
Jackson Hole Country.

T en- thousand head Of wild elk
liking across the state Of Wyoming,
gu II ded ami guided by us. cavalry
and many cowboys, ranchmen and
shee pherders, is the unique spectacle
which will be seen some time before
the coming winter, if the plans Of the
state officials are carried out.
The elk are at present in the Jack
son Hole country, in the extreme
western edge Of the state. 1t is the
intention Of the officials to remove
them to tie Big Horn mountains
just west OF Sheridan, and in the ex-
treme northern portions Of the state.
The animals have increased SO
rapidly that the Jackson Hole coun-
try is fairly overrun with them. 1t
is estimated that fully rs, 900 head Of
elk winter each year in the Hole, and
they simply eat the ranchmen out Of
their house and home. They are
prote cted by the state, and except
for the killing Of few in the fall, the
killing of an elk is serious ofense.
As result the elk herd has become
a menace and its number is increas-
ing by leaps and bounds. The elk
have seemed to realize that they are
safe and have become so tame that
they are not frightened at the pres
ence Of man. In the winter when
the range is covered with snow, the
elk invade the rancher's hay stack
and eat every straw. Fences are not
Of the least protection against them,
as they 60 over an obstruction Of
that kind as though they were birds.
The elk herd has finally become
so great menace that the entire
western portion Of the state took up
arms in an effort to save the ranches
and farms, as well as the sheep and
cattle, as the elk simply threatened
to strip the range Of forage and leave
the domesticated animals to die OF
starvation.
The national government was
appealed to, and at the last session
congress appropriated $40, 900 for
the care and preservation of elk in
Wyoming. The state officials realize
that the great herd must be made
self-supporting il it is to remain in
existence.
In northern Wyoming are the Big
Horn mountains, stretching 100
miles OF more from north to south.
The Big Horn range Of mountains is
a succession Of high peaks and deep
ravines, and all heavily wooded. 1t
is an ideal country for elk and other
big game. The elk herd from Jackson
Hole would scatter and lose itself at
once were it transplanted to the Big
Horn mountains. And there would
be sufficient provender to furnish
food throughout the winter without
the least assistance from the state or
others.
Under these conditions the state
officials have determined to move
big portion Of the herd from the
Hole over to the Big Horn country.
But to make the transfer by railroad
is out Of the question because Of the
tremendous expense. So it was de-
termined to drive the elk as though
they were cattle.
The United States government
will be as ked to permit 1000 cavalry
men from Fort Russell at Cheyenne
and Fort Mckenzie at Sheridan, to
take part in the great drive. And
to this large force will be added
1000 cowboys, ranchmen, sheep
herders and others-a total of 1000
mounted men until late fall or early
winter.
The elk have become SO accustom-
ed to mo united men that they no
longer fear a man on horse, and
this fact will be taken advantage Of
during the drive. The. animals will
be handled as herd Of cattle, except
that instead Of a cowboy now and
then, the mounted men around the
elk will be as thick as flies. AT night
they will be herdea just as cattle are.
The only practical road into