Activity and Movements of Reintroduced Elk in Southeastern Kentucky

Wichrowski, Michael W.; Maehr, David S.; Larkin, Jeffery L.; Cox, John J.; Olsson, Mikael

doi:10.1656/1528-7092(2005)004[0365:aamore]2.0.co;2

Cited by 16 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…These sites are all geographically proximate to the Raven restoration site where all the elk from North Dakota were translocated. The Kentucky elk herd has not been observed to conduct seasonal migratory movements (Wichrowski et al ). Larkin et al (), however, documented translocated adult elk in Kentucky moving up to 23 km within 12 months following release.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic Characteristics of Restored Elk Populations in Kentucky

et al. 2020

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Translocations are a common management practice to restore or augment populations. Understanding the genetic consequences of translocation efforts is important for the long‐term health of restored populations. The restoration of elk (Cervus canadensis) to Kentucky, USA, included source stocks from 6 western states, which were released at 8 sites in southeastern Kentucky during 1997–2002. We assessed genetic diversity in restored herds and compared genetic similarity to source stocks based on 15 microsatellite DNA loci. Genetic variation in the restored populations was comparable to source stocks (truex¯ allelic richness = 3.52 and 3.50; truex¯ expected heterozygosity = 0.665 and 0.661 for restored and source, respectively). Genetic differentiation among all source and restored populations ranged from 0.000 to 0.065 for pairwise FST and 0.034 to 0.161 for pairwise Nei's DA. Pairwise genetic differentiation and Bayesian clustering revealed that stocks from Utah and North Dakota, USA, contributed most to restored populations. Other western stocks appeared less successful and were not detected with our data, though our sampling was not exhaustive. We also inferred natural movements of elk among release sites by the presence of multiple genetic stocks. The success of the elk restoration effort in Kentucky may be due, in part, to the large number of elk (n = 1,548), repeated releases, and use of diverse source stocks. Future restoration efforts for elk in the eastern United States should consider the use of multiple stock sources and a large number of individuals. In addition, preservation of genetic samples of founder stock will enable detailed monitoring in the future. © 2020 The Authors. The Journal of Wildlife Management published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of The Wildlife Society.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic Characteristics of Restored Elk Populations in Kentucky

et al. 2020

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“…Elk populations in eastern North America do not exhibit large‐scale migrations such as reported in some elk populations in western North America (Ruhl , Wichrowski et al. ). Further, elk in southeastern North America experience longer growing seasons and milder winters than those in the Rocky Mountain west, where the largest populations of elk in North America exist (O'Gara & Dundas ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…For example, elk in the east inhabit densely forested landscapes in low elevation bands, where parasite and predator faunas differ from those in western North America (Lankester & Fong 1989). Elk populations in eastern North America do not exhibit large-scale migrations such as reported in some elk populations in western North America (Ruhl 1984, Wichrowski et al 2005. Further, elk in southeastern North America experience longer growing seasons and milder winters than those in the Rocky Mountain west, where the largest populations of elk in North America exist (O'Gara & Dundas 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

A review of vital rates and cause‐specific mortality of elk Cervus elaphus populations in eastern North America

et al. 2015

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A review of elk vital rates in eastern NorthAmerica is warranted given continued interest in restoring the species to the region and the variation in habitat conditions, anthropogenic influence on population dynamics and predator fauna between eastern and western North America. 2. We reviewed 23 studies of elk demographics from populations in eastern North America and summarized adult (>2 years old), subadult (1-2 years old) and juvenile (0-1 years old) annual survival and fecundity. We also reviewed and compared studies in which causes of mortality in eastern and western North American elk populations were reported. 3. Annual survival of adult and subadult elk in populations in eastern North America was similar to those reported for western North American elk populations. Annual juvenile survival [Ŝ = 0.76, standard error (SE) = 0.07] in eastern North American elk populations was 53% higher than that in western North American populations. 4. Fecundity rates in elk populations in eastern North America were low (0.75 juveniles per female per year, SE = 0.06) compared with fecundity rates typical of western North American populations. Juvenile survival and adult fecundity were lower in recently restored populations (Ŝ = 0.65, SE = 0.09; 0.62 juveniles per female per year) than in established populations (Ŝ = 0.83, SE = 0.07; 0.80 juveniles per female per year) in eastern North America. 5. Brainworm Parelaphostrongylus tenuis infection, vehicle collisions and nuisance culling were important factors contributing to mortality in eastern North American, but not in western North American, elk populations. bs_bs_banner Mammal Review ISSN 0305-1838 146 Mammal Review 45 (2015) 146-159

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“…We paired each used cell with 5 cells considered available to the elk. Following Durner et al (), we selected available cells using the radius of available habitat method, allowing mean hourly movement rates to vary by sex and month (Wichrowski et al ). The circle was centered on the previous used relocation with radius = c ( a + 2 b ), where a was the mean hourly movement rate (m/hr), b was the standard deviation of the movement rate, and c was the number of hours between relocations.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Resource selection of a recently translocated elk population in Missouri

et al. 2018

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Elk (Cervus canadensis) have been successfully translocated to 11 states in the United States and 1 Canadian province in eastern North America. Availability of suitable habitat is an important factor in determining the success of relocations, but there is limited information on habitat selection of elk in eastern deciduous forests. Our objective was to determine resource selection of male and female elk recently translocated in the Ozark Mountains, Missouri, USA. We placed global positioning system (GPS) collars on all translocated adult elk. We modeled seasonal resource selection as a function of 9 habitat-related covariates using a hierarchical Bayesian discrete choice model. Forage openings (cultivated fields providing forage for wildlife), glades, and cool-season grasslands (pastures) had high probabilities of elk use. Areas with vegetation type heterogeneity, low canopy cover, and far from paved roads but close to 2-track roads also had high probabilities of elk use. The availability of open lands, such as glades, pastures, and forage openings, appears to be important for elk in all seasons in forest-dominated landscapes and may help encourage site fidelity following translocation and reduce conflict with private property as the population becomes established. Managers of elk populations in similar ecosystems should ensure sufficient availability of open lands, which might be met through maintenance of forage openings and restoration of natural open lands. Additionally, restoration efforts can benefit from post-translocation monitoring that allows managers to improve upon externally derived habitat models through a process of adaptive restoration planning and habitat management. Ó 2018 The Wildlife Society.

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Activity and Movements of Reintroduced Elk in Southeastern Kentucky

Cited by 16 publications

References 11 publications

Genetic Characteristics of Restored Elk Populations in Kentucky

Genetic Characteristics of Restored Elk Populations in Kentucky

A review of vital rates and cause‐specific mortality of elk Cervus elaphus populations in eastern North America

Resource selection of a recently translocated elk population in Missouri

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