Clam Lake Elk Herd Updates

Latest Update

First Quarter— January through March 2008

Elk Cows

Current Status: We had 6 verified elk mortalities during this quarter (see Elk Health below). We estimate the herd at 125 elk as of March 31, 2008.

Elk Research on the Clam Lake Herd: We should be receiving a thesis copy any time now from UW Stevens Point researcher Trina Weiland on her investigation of liver fluke and brain worm infestation of Clam Lake Elk. We will share those findings when they arrive.

Elk Health Issues: We had 6 verified wolf mortalities, 4 in February and 2 in March--they were as follows: Bull 191, 2/1/08, 1 year, 8 months; Bull 194, 2/4/08, 1 year, 8 months; Bull 230, 2/7/08, 8 months; Bull 225, 2/25/08, 9 months; Bull 220, 3/11/08, 9 months; and Bull 216, 3/20/08, 10 months. We did not observe or have reports of any vehicle collisions occurring during this quarter, which were fully expected after the spike we had in early December.

Elk Trapping: From January through early March we made 5 captures for a total of 65 elk—tied with the record capture we had last year. However, our season was much better in that we recollared 17 cows, collared 2 previously uncollared cows, recollared 2 bulls, and collared 3 calves. This year’s effort tied with the number of collared animals of the winter of 2001/2002 when we collared 24 elk (15 cows, 8 calves and 1 bull). However, the 19 cows we collared this year were the most cows collared in a year. Emphasizing our luck was the fact that all 3 uncollared calves were females (F228, F231 and F232)! One of the 2 uncollared cows captured had an ear tag 26. Cow 26 was the first elk calf captured and collared during the 1996 calving season. She had been captured and collared with a special expandable, breakaway collar that was shed once F26 reached 18 months to 2 years old. From 1998 until this January we had no idea that F26 was even alive. Because we had not observed her death we were assuming she still survived, however, it was gratifying to have verification of her survival through this capture. Because we recollared her this winter we should be able to continue to monitor her for the next 6 years. Maybe she’ll show us where she’s been these past 10 years. Two other important individual captures included original Cows 02 and 18. Each of these cows had active radio collars for most of the time they were present, however, both collars went dead 2 years ago. We were lucky to have captured Cows 02 and 18 and place new collars on each. Having a life long history of each of the original released elk allows us to build a better population model for the Clam Lake herd.

Of the 25 original elk released in 1995 we know for a fact that 7 cows are still alive (cows 02, 04, 08, 09, 18, 22, 25—collars on cows 22 & 25 are due to go off the air at any time now), that 8 cows are known dead (Cows 01, 05, 06, 11, 12, 14, 20, & 24), and 2 bulls are known dead (bulls 17 & 23). We do not know the status of 4 bulls (bulls 03, 07, 10 & 19) and 4 cows (13, 15, 16 & 21). Considering the rates of those surviving versus those known dead one would have to assume that about ½ of the unknowns are still surviving.

As of the end of this past winter trapping effort we’ve captured or recaptured 297 elk during these past 7 winters, averaging about 42 elk per winter (these past 2 winters we captured 65 elk each). Except 1 yearling bull that died soon after captured due to complications resulting from its liver being destroyed by liver flukes, we’ve not had any elk die during, or immediately after our handling—an accomplishment that we’re very proud of!

Special thanks to Jeff Morden for providing engineering and manufacturing support in developing a new and improved trigger system for the elk trap and for plowing out about 3 miles of forest roads for access to set up our elk trap, and assisting us with processing elk. Special thanks also go out to other DNR staff Ken Jonas, Pat Beringer, Nancy Christel, Gary Dunsmoor, Todd Zawacki, Travis Issendorf, Brent Seiser, Lowell Tesky, Chris Cold, John Gozdzialski, Terri Heathcote, Jesse Schalkowski, and volunteers Paul Wick, Charlie Braeger and the gang from Whiskey Jacks for helping us to take down and set up the elk trap, and in working the captured elk. We wouldn’t have accomplished all that we did without all this help! Thank you!

Population Monitoring: During this quarter we made 910 telemetry location determinations and 1,820 telemetry mortality checks.

Public Education: During this quarter we gave 2 elk presentations to a total of 130 participants. We also gave 10 print and 1 radio interviews.

Partnerships: We continue to provide support to UWSP and USFS on their elk related projects. The USFS has again approved a temporary road closure on a few select roads that travel through important elk calving areas. These include Forest Roads 1265/1275; upper reaches of FR 208, FR 1029, and a cluster of FRs that enter into a 4 square mile block that are east of CTH GG and east of Little Clam Lake, south of STH 77, west and north of FR 339. These roads will be closed to motorized travel from May 1st through June 30th.

Upcoming Events: We will be submitting several grant applications for funding from the RMEF Wisconsin Project Advisory Committee at the end of April. We will also be intensely monitoring cows and attempting to capture calves from mid May to mid June. Already we have close to a hundred volunteers lined up to help!

Laine Stowell & Matt McKay, April 1, 2008

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Past Updates

Email Laine Stowell for updates from previous years.

Questions for Wildlife Management

Last Revised: Thursday April 10 2008