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Early elk arrival expected in refuge JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) – National Elk Refuge officials predict elk will begin arriving at the preserve early this fall, because the dry weather has reduced forage in the surrounding area. Biologists would prefer to keep the elk scattered and feeding on natural forage for as long as possible, which would help prevent diseases from spreading. Refuge biologist Bruce Smith has been studying the relationship between drought and elk migration for 10 years. He suspects drought influences elk migration times as much as snowfall does. Typically, snowfall pushes the animals to lower elevations where it is easier to move and graze. In Grand Teton National Park, however, higher-elevation forage does not stay green as long as in the Bridger-Teton National Forest high country. About half the herd comes from the park. Elk continue grazing on plants that have begun transferring nutrients to their roots in preparation for the winter, but not longer than they have to. In hot, dry weather, the move happens earlier. Elk that show up earlier are likely to have less to eat when they arrive, refuge officials said. Staff have been collecting grass samples to measure how much forage is on the 24,700-acre refuge. They suspect grass growth is down. In an average year, the refuge produces 20,000 tons of forage, or twice as much as 7,500 elk need to get through the winter, Smith said. While the elk should have enough natural forage to survive the winter even after a dry year, other factors cause the elk to congregate on the south end of the refuge where there is not enough feed. One is the fact that hunting is allowed on the north end of the refuge. Also, irrigation on the south end keeps the forage greener. “They’re not going to work any harder than they have to,” he said. “In a dry year like this, we will run out of forage on the south end sooner and start feeding sooner.” Many of the elk know that eventually big trucks filled with alfalfa pellets will show up, he said. Feeding earlier means feeding longer, however, which is bad news for wildlife managers trying to reduce the amount of time elk feed on non-natural sources. Feed lines are linked to disease because they congregate elk. Copyright 2000 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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