A Possible Problem With Elk In The Future.

[jdmidwest]

Interesting article regarding Elk using a different habitat than they usually do. Seems like they browse on trees that are vital to songbirds. What if our reintroduced Elk herd changes our forests and some of our established species start getting pushed out?

http://www.livescience.com/29105-birds-climate.html

[Ham]

IT wouldn't be popular, but it would be pretty easy to de-populate the elk if it was determined to be necessary. Extended season with either sex being OK to harvest. Lots of people own .30-06 rifles don't they?

[Justin Spencer]

Interesting article regarding Elk using a different habitat than they usually do. Seems like they browse on trees that are vital to songbirds. What if our reintroduced Elk herd changes our forests and some of our established species start getting pushed out?

http://www.livescience.com/29105-birds-climate.html

Shouldn't be a problem here, it said lower snowfalls related to climate change has the elk migrating differently, since climate change is a myth should be no problem. :-)

[moguy1973]

Didn't there used to be wild elk in Missouri?

[Al Agnew]

When there were elk in Missouri, the forests were vastly different than they are now. The "virgin" Ozark forests were old growth, consisting of big, widely spaced trees with a lot of grass growing around them instead of the very thick forests with almost no native grasses that we have today. The elk back then probably grazed on the grasses. In fact, it was probably partly due to the cutting of the trees and the changing of the forests that had as much to do with the elk disappearing as simply hunting them to death, although that certainly happened as well.

I doubt if the elk are going to have much more of an impact on the browse than the present very high populations of deer already do. They can reach a little higher is all.

[jdmidwest]

The Elk will not be affected by the Missouri snowfalls like out west, The Elk will stay in one feeding range and that was the point. Will they overuse the existing habitat that has currently adapted in the 200 years since they have been gone from MO? Will they affect other species?

Who knows, but did the MDC look at this possibility of destroying other species that are established and now native when they decide to bring back a species that has been extinct in MO for over 200 years? Deer and turkey did not really count, they were only almost gone.

[Chief Grey Bear]

The Elk will not be affected by the Missouri snowfalls like out west, The Elk will stay in one feeding range and that was the point. Will they overuse the existing habitat that has currently adapted in the 200 years since they have been gone from MO? Will they affect other species?

Who knows, but did the MDC look at this possibility of destroying other species that are established and now native when they decide to bring back a species that has been extinct in MO for over 200 years? Deer and turkey did not really count, they were only almost gone.

You have missed your calling. You should be working for FOX News.

So what do we have, less than 3 dozen currently and the top out number of around 150, living on 346 square miles, or 221,440 acres?

[jdmidwest]

You have missed your calling. You should be working for FOX News.

So what do we have, less than 3 dozen currently and the top out number of around 150, living on 346 square miles, or 221,440 acres?

For now, but who knows how it will take off. I think top number of 150 is pretty slim, they are wanting a huntable herd. Out west they are talking about the herds just staying in a forage area for a longer amount of time changing the habitat. Those big eating machines could change the area. Like Al stated, the forest was a lot different the last time they roamed MO.

I wonder if there were any studies about what the avg population density of the Elk before the change that brought them to an end.

[Justin Spencer]

What threatened songbirds currently nest at Peck Ranch? I think JD is just stirring the pot.

[ness]

When there were elk in Missouri, the forests were vastly different than they are now. The "virgin" Ozark forests were old growth, consisting of big, widely spaced trees with a lot of grass growing around them instead of the very thick forests with almost no native grasses that we have today. The elk back then probably grazed on the grasses. In fact, it was probably partly due to the cutting of the trees and the changing of the forests that had as much to do with the elk disappearing as simply hunting them to death, although that certainly happened as well.

I doubt if the elk are going to have much more of an impact on the browse than the present very high populations of deer already do. They can reach a little higher is all.