Rocky Mountain Elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni)

The Definitive Guide to Elk Control and Where to Find a
Wildlife Control Professional!

Are you frustrated and tired of dealing with the Damage caused by WILDLIFE. This site deals with WILDLIFE DAMAGE and steps the "Do it yourselfer" can take to protecting your property from the damage caused by Wildlife in your area.

Don't want to do it yourself? No Problem, we have Wildlife Professionals to help you solve all your wildlife control needs.

Identification

The elk is a large, powerful animal with an adult weight averaging over 400 pounds. An Elks hair coat is light to dark reddish brown on the body, a darker brown on the neck and legs, and creamy on the large rump patch. Males bear large, impressive antlers with six or more tines branching from two heavy central beams.

Range

The Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) is found in the Rocky Mountain states and in scattered locations in the Midwest and East. The current distribution of the Roosevelt elk (C. e. roosevelti) is the inland coastal areas of northern California, Oregon, Washington, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and Afognak Island, Alaska. The Tule elk (C. e. nannodes) is found only in California, and the Manitoban elk (C. e. manitobensis) is found in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Damage Caused by Elk

Elk commonly impact agricultural resources by competing with domestic livestock for pasture and damaging cereal and hay crops, ornamental plants, orchards, and livestock fences. Elk also damage forest resources by feeding on seedlings and saplings of coniferous and deciduous trees. During winter, elk concentrate in areas where food is available, including pastures, winter wheat fields, and young conifer plantations. A survey conducted in 1989 indicated that elk caused damage to crops in seven states, mostly to haystacks and pastures.

Control Methods

Large wooden panels around haystacks are effective but expensive. Wrapping haystacks with plastic sheeting or netting is less expensive but effective for only 1 to 2 years. Tensar snow fence material is inexpensive and effective for many years.

Woven-wire fencing is highly effective, but expensive. Electric fencing is less expensive and almost as effective as woven wire.

Welded-wire cages up to 6 feet tall effectively prevent elk damage to fruit and ornamental trees.

Alternative forage plants provide protection under limited conditions. Planting larger trees, especially conifers, is highly successful. Alternating grazing by cattle and elk provides increased amounts of nutritious forage for both on the same pasture.

Harvesting timber in large blocks (100 to 200 acres [40 to 80 ha]) promotes increased forage production and overwhelms elk with more forage than they can eat, increasing potential for adequate seedling density.

Hazing with aircraft provides short-term and expensive control of damage to range and forage crops.

Propane exploders provide temporary (2 to 4 weeks) relief from elk damage.

Moderately effective for short periods (2 to 4 weeks). They usually require multiple applications.

Corral-type traps are cumbersome, expensive to erect, and of limited effectiveness. Shooting

Special hunts designed to reduce local elk numbers are of limited effectiveness.

Selective harvest of individual offending elk may provide relief from localized damage.

Some western states compensate landowners for damage by elk to agricultural crops.

For best results contact a Wildlife Control Professional. For more information on Control methods and equipment, click here.