Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-07-09
ESTIMATED ELK IN j. S.
FIGURED At $4,000
Federal and State Govern.
mcn,s Cooperating in Max
ing Stock Permanent.
YELLOWSTONE HERD LARGEST
Northern Group, Which Ranges
within Yellowstone National Park
In summer nnd TiEratea North
ward, Suffered Winter of Ieie-2O.

WASHINGTON. D. c.. July s.-The
Estimated number Of elk remaining in
two large groups In the United
states at the present time 10 only
about $4,000. according to tho bio
logical survey OF the United States
Department OF Agriculture. To in
sure the permanence of these splendid
game animals, which arc among tho
largest and finest of all deer. tho CO.
operation and coordination OF Fed :
cral, state and all other interested
agencies Is needed.
The elk Of the Yellowstone Park
region constitute the only really large
herds Of big game remaining in the
United states. and although these
number about 25,oOc they arc nero
remnant OF the great herds which
formerly ranged from Maine to Cali
fornia. The northern group, which
ranges within the Yellowstone Ma
tional Park In summer and migrates
northward. suffered greatly from the
adverse conditions Of the winter OF
1920.
Travels of tho Elk.
The elk in the southern group ar.
scattered in summer At high eleva-
tons In tho southern part OF yell
lowsionc Park. and In tho mountains
OF tn" Teton. Bridger. Wyoming and
Washable National Forests. with
the first heavy snowfall they descend
to lower levels. where their winter
range has become more and NOR. re-
s'r'c'ed by tn. coming Of settlers.
Thousands ~ elk congreKat. in III.
path OF their former migration in the
vicinity OF the winter refuge main
tanned by the Biological Survey a,
Jackson. Wso. 4 winter feeding
ground at this poina attract. many
elk. and II has been found neces-
FHry 10 furnish supply OF hay for
them. Feeding is not recomme nd cd,
however. where natural winter forage
ia sufficient quantity is available.
Tho other principal herds remain
Ing on their native ranges are the
Roosevelt elk, confined to the Olympic
Mountains In Northwest Washington,
and smaller isolated groups mainly
near the Pacific Coast. which include
the valley elk In a small area At the
lower end OF the San joaquin Valley,
California. II An elk il estimated 20
be worth SI5. the value of the present
herds In the United States would he
approximately 5000, 900. which 10 n
substantial national asset.
Used for R-storkInR Purposes.
Within the past ten year. several
thousand head OF ELK have been
- IlpUl NHf "lEo stone
Park region to localities ia n,any
states for restocking purposes In
Arizona. wher" conditions are suit :
able. these transplant"d herds are
thriving In other district. IL has
been demonstrated that 1t &. UNI
wise 10 Introduce elk on restric,e 4
areas near farming communities :
more or less injury TO crops occurs
and claims for damages are 10 be ea-
pected.
The high mortality among elk IN
recent years has been due partly 10
weather conditions. such as p"riod-
cal summer thoughts followed by un-
usually severe winters. and partly
10 the ercroachmcnt Of settlers
through whom much suitable winter
range ls eliminated Hunters Kill
elk IS game and many OF tho fines,
animals become victims 81 tooth hum =
@rs operating illegally. Mountain
Hons. lynxes. wolves and coyotes also
Kill many.
Adequate winter range. anordlng
suNic!en, forage. and adequate winter
protection must be provided II elk
are 10 be maintained even In moder-
ate numbers. In the opinion Of the
United states Department OF Agricul-
ture. limited areas OF hay land and
urgently needed 10 supply forage for
winter use should ne purchas ed