The re-establishment of wild elk in Kentucky is a bright star in the field of wildlife management. The first elk transported to Kentucky came from Elk Island, Alberta, Canada in the 90’s. Those first Rocky Mountain Elk were released at Land Between the Lakes and their descendants can be viewed there via an auto tour.
Lessons learned in that transfer established a protocol for transfers to the south eastern part of Kentucky in subsequent years. The one hundred original animals consisted of 40 bulls and 60 cows. They seem to have grown larger than their brethren in the western states due lack of stress.
An 80% pregnancy rate has proven fruitful for the herd in general. Low mortality comes in the form of Brain worm (7-8 percent), poaching (1-2 percent), and an additional 10 percent from unknown causes. Kentucky is free of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD.)
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