WISCONSIN ELK STUDY PROGRESS REPORT NO.11

In spite of that which appears to have been a poor calving season, the elk project is still going well. Two births were confirmed in 1996; birthdays were 5 and 6 July. The latter was a 30-lb female that was captured and radio-tagged at age 2 days within sight of Co. Hwy GG; the other was confirmed by observation but eluded capture at its birth site within mile of the release pen. This very late calving was probably a result of the breeding being done by yearling bulls during the previous rut. The 2 adult bulls of the experimental herd were not with the major group of cows during the rut of 1995 but were with single cows; one of which was a yearling that, after repeated searches, thus far has not shown evidence of calving, and the other was an adult that was shot and killed during the 1995 deer-rifle season. The shooter, in the case that was closed only 2 weeks ago, received a $500.00 fine and 1 year revocation of hunting privileges; he had voluntarily turned himself in after the accidental but negligent shooting. When breeding has been done by yearling bulls in other wild situations and in pen studies, the pregnancy rate is lower and the subsequent calving dates are later than normal because the cows are much less receptive of, and often aggressive towards, the yearling bulls and the first 2 estrous cycles may pass without conception. In this instance, conception occurred late in the second or early in the third estrous cycle. Other cows are under constant telemetry surveillance for visual opportunities to confirm possible births that occurred during this irregular calving year that has engaged almost total field efforts during June and July.

Winter Food Habits - The elk wintered in 5 areas. Forty 1/100-acre, randomly selected sample plots were surveyed in each area this summer to determine food references and impact on the vegetation. Browsed and unbrowsed twigs of all species within the plots were counted and recorded. Lowland conifer swamps were used by most of the elk; only 3 of them wintered in upland areas. Preliminary analysis of data shows that preferred browse species in the lowland areas were, roughly in order of preference, white cedar, aspen, red maple, beaked hazel, mountain maple, paper birch, yellow birch, sugar maple, and cherry. On the upland sites, preferred foods were aspen, red maple, hazel, and oak; the latter in one area only. Elk also used ground forage plants until snow depths reached approximately 30 inches. Pellets were collected in each wintering area for future analysis of food items. Elk and deer wintered in separate areas.

Hounding - The reaction of elk to hounding during the dog-training period, from 1 July throughout the summer, was monitored in 1995 and 1996. Twenty four instances of hounding in areas where elk were present were monitored. Hounds were known to be in the vicinity of elk in 10 instances and their probable presence was assumed by the presence of hounding trucks in 14 instances. Elk moved out of their recent home range in 3 of the 10 instances where hounds were known to be present; 2 of these involved the same bull elk. He moved 4.6 and 4.7 miles to new areas during the hounding but subsequently returned to his original location 1 and 2 days later respectively. A cow elk moved 0.6 miles in the third instance and did not return to the original location. Elk did not move out of their established home areas in the other 7 instances nor in any of the 14 instances where hounds were assumed to be present as indicated by the presence of hound trucks.

Logging - Elk reactions to logging operations were monitored during the summer, fall, and winter of 1995 and are under surveillance at this time. Those data are currently being analyzed; preliminary results indicate that the elk adapt to, or are quite tolerant of, logging activity.

Incidental items of note - 1) Survivorship of a third 1995 calf was confirmed this summer when it was observed with its mother after being separated since mid-November 1995. They were seen together near where the calf was born last year - Birthday Rendezvous. 2) Cow No. 14, the Hurley Lady, is still with the main group of cows on the study area. 3) The spike-antlered bulls of 1995 are now 4Xs of impressive development. 4) Adult bulls No. 7 and 23 are alone, 14 and 11 straight-line miles respectively from the main group of cows at this time, the beginning of the rut. Three 2-year-old bulls are with the cows, enhancing the possibility of a much higher pregnancy rate this year.

USDA-FS rejuvenated 6 existing openings, totaling 6 acres, and mowed an additional 24 acres of openings in the vicinity of the ELF line, and hence elk home ranges, as a part of an ongoing wildlife management program.

WESCo Advisory Council visited the project area on 1 June 1996. A short review session convened at Lakewoods Resort in the morning and the study area was visited in the afternoon.

Project personnel delivered 62 public presentations on the history and current status of the elk study throughout the state of Wisconsin and responded to a minimum of 102 telephone interviews by various media sources since the elk were released into the wild. Several others are also scheduled for the future. Presentations on the Wisconsin Project were also presented to the Eastern RMEF Elk Rendezvous in Rochester NY and to North Carolina Game Commission in Raleigh NC. Several eastern States are considering elk reintroduction programs; the Wisconsin Project is proving to be very helpful in providing guidelines. This Progress Report, the 11th that has been issued in the past 19 months, is being distributed directly to 318 recipients. Several news releases have also been prepared and dispatched in cooperation with the USDA-FS public relations office since the project began.

For those who are into "surfing the internet", we are creating a Web Page that should be established in a few weeks.

We are looking forward to the impending bugling season with considerable anticipation. This activity could commence by the end of this month. We expect this season to be more conspicuous than it was last year when there was a preponderance of yearling bulls in the herd.

Monitor movements, survivorship, behavior, and habitat use regularly with emphasis on deer and bear hunting seasons, hounding, logging, and snowmobiling, and the rut.

Capture and tag calves of 1995 and 1996 (4); recapture and re-tag 4 adults.

Continue winter food habits and monitor elk condition via snow-urine samples.

Determine spring season food habits.

Determine productivity and survivorship of calves.

Analyze data and write results of Year-1 and -2.