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YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. — The annual winter survey shows the northern elk herd here is up significantly over last winter, state and federal officials announced this week.
The Northern Yellowstone Cooperative Wildlife Working Group on Jan. 5 counted 9,545 elk during good survey conditions. About one-third of the elk were north of the border in Montana.
This year's total was 15 percent higher than during the winter of 2004 and slightly higher than 2003, officials said.
"The increase in counted elk from last year most likely is a result of better survey conditions and detection of elk this winter, rather than an actual increase in elk numbers," said P.J. White, a National Park Service wildlife biologist in Yellowstone.
The northern herd winters between the northeast entrance of Yellowstone National Park and Dome Mountain/Dailey Lake in the Paradise Valley of Montana.
White said the trend in elk numbers still suggests there are significantly fewer animals in the northern herd over the past decade, in part because of predation by wolves. Other factors include late-season hunts in the Gardiner area, winterkill and possibly drought-related effects on pregnancy and calf survival, he said.
http://www.idahostatesman.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050114/IDOUT/501140313/1059
The Northern Yellowstone Cooperative Wildlife Working Group on Jan. 5 counted 9,545 elk during good survey conditions. About one-third of the elk were north of the border in Montana.
This year's total was 15 percent higher than during the winter of 2004 and slightly higher than 2003, officials said.
"The increase in counted elk from last year most likely is a result of better survey conditions and detection of elk this winter, rather than an actual increase in elk numbers," said P.J. White, a National Park Service wildlife biologist in Yellowstone.
The northern herd winters between the northeast entrance of Yellowstone National Park and Dome Mountain/Dailey Lake in the Paradise Valley of Montana.
White said the trend in elk numbers still suggests there are significantly fewer animals in the northern herd over the past decade, in part because of predation by wolves. Other factors include late-season hunts in the Gardiner area, winterkill and possibly drought-related effects on pregnancy and calf survival, he said.
http://www.idahostatesman.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050114/IDOUT/501140313/1059
