Cyndi's Two Cents

Elk Schmelk

Commentary.

It is Missouri today, but it could be any other state tomorrow. The Missouri Conservation Commission has directed Missouri Conservation Department (MDC) staff to reinitiate plan development that would enable the agency to restore elk in a Conservation Area that covers 365-square mile (233,600 acres.) 94% of that acreage is forestland, less than 300 acres is in cropland, and 9,344 is “open” land. I couldn’t find accurate information about the species or number of livestock raised in this area.

Forty percent of the land is privately owned.

Releasing elk is not a new idea in Missouri. Ten years a feasibility study was conducted but the effort was suspended because of the emerging issue of chronic wasting disease and concerns about adequate habitat.

Apparently, those issues have lost relevance.

Oh, I know the proposal includes all sorts of health protocols and plans for release, population control and “escapees” that leave the restoration zone, but why do it in the first place? The introduction of elk, supporters say, will enhance elk ecotourism and hunting, which will bring economic benefits to the state.

When the subject of the elk restoration project is brought up in discussion, the first concern most people voice deals with the potential for vehicle collision. During recent public meetings, this concern was voiced to department officials. Their official response?

“In states where elk have been restored, vehicle accidents sometimes occur, but have not been a significant problem.”

Not a significant problem to whom? The 1500 pound bull elk or the person(s) driving the car, truck or motorcycle that collided with one of the largest mammals in North America? Sort of makes that white-tail deer in the headlights look a little less frightening.

The MDC has stated that all elk brought into Missouri would originate from herds with a history of health surveillance and no evidence of health issues and would go through extensive disease testing prior to release. Other states with successful elk restoration projects have followed health protocols for the source herd by testing for chronic wasting disease, brucellosis, bovine tuberculosis, Johne’s disease, anaplasmosis, vesicular stomatitis, epizootic hemorrhagic disease, and blue tongue.

Our country is in an economic recession. What happens when jobs and programs are cut and instead of testing for all of these diseases, they only test for a couple. Instead of testing all of the elk, they only test a couple.

I don’t know about you, but bio-security is taken seriously where the livestock and poultry on our farm are concerned.

The fact that elk are native to Missouri doesn’t mean that elk should be roaming free in Missouri today. Elk have not ranged freely in the state since the early 1800’s. In case you hadn’t noticed, there are a few thousand more people inhabiting the elks’ former habitat these 200 years later.

I love to hear a bugling elk. I love to watch from a distance majestic bull wapiti with enormous antlers showing off, sparring and posturing during rut. I have witnessed this site in visits to the Rocky Mountains.

One person suggested an elk introduction in southern Missouri should go smoothly because of their great adaptability. That great adaptability could very well pose a threat to the species and environment into which they have been “restored.”

Elk Schmelk.