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BIG SOUTH FORK TENNESSEE: Re-Introducing Extinct Eastern Elk Herds

By Leslie Helm

Real Estate Agent with Tennessee Recreational Properties

August 19, 2010 01:16 AM

Elk may be observed from the Hatfield Knob Elk Viewing Tower on the Sundquist Unit of the North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area, 7 miles north of Lafolette TN on Highway 25W. While there has been some controversy surrounding the re-population of black bears in the Big South Fork, there is none at all concerning the introduction of elk in Tennessee.

Loss of habitat and over-exploitation by man resulted in the disappearance of elk from the eastern United States and they have not been seen in Tennessee since 1865. At present Michigan, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina,Wisconsin, Arkansas and Kentucky have resident herds and several other eastern states are looking into the possibility of also reintroducing elk.

Elk have the potential to cause crop and property damage so the present elk restoration zone, some 670,000 acres on the Cumberland Plateau, was chosen since it contains a large amount of public land that has few agricultural crops and is composed of suitable habitat.

All elk released were ear tagged and fitted with radio collars so that their movements can be tracked. Elk that wander outside of the restoration zone are captured and moved back into it if possible, but an occasional elk has been known to wonder through Big South Fork National Park!

The initial elk released in Tennessee in December of 2000 came from Elk Island National Park in Alberta, Canada. The EINP elk herd is closely monitored for potential health problems and is considered one of the best sources of wild disease-free elk. For each release, approximately 75% of the elk were cows and 25% were bulls. For the safety of the animals, the bulls had their antlers removed prior to transporting them to Tennessee and mature bulls were transported apart from the rest of the animals.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) has hired a full time elk biologist whose duties are primarily to increase the amount of habitat suitable for elk, which will help reduce conflicts with landowner interests.

With the Tennessee elk herd numbering a little over 300 head and having no known natural predators, the first elk hunt in almost 150 years took place in 2009. The 2010 statewide elk hunting season will be held October 18-22, with five permits issued for antlered bulls only.

It is hoped that the current population of elk will expand to a herd of 1400-2000, a figure that should be obtainable over the next 30 years.

The budget for the elk reintroduction project is approximately $300,000 per year with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) providing about half of the funding and the TWRA, the University of Tennessee and other groups chartered to provide the remainder.

For information about Big South Fork real estate or horse properties in Jamestown, Tennessee, go to www.trailridersrealestate.com

There's also a lot of information about the area on Tennessee Recreational Properties' website.

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Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist

KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA

Probate Real Estate Services

Leslie, This is interesting … I often wonder the overall impact of over-exploitation of man … what will the final outcome be? Nature and all the beasts are critical to the our beautiful planet.

Aug 21, 2010 10:58 AM

Leslie Helm

Tennessee Recreational Properties - Jamestown, TN

Real Estate For Trail Riders

Hi, Kathleen. It must be very hard for animals when they lose their habitat and are forced out of an area. If the area has changed, I'm not sure what the benefit is in "re-introducing" them if they must be confined and the herd managed by turning around and issuing more hunting permits to kill them!

Aug 22, 2010 10:36 AM

Sue Neff

Tennessee Real Properties - Jamestown, TN

Principal Broker, Jamestown, TN

"While there has been some controversy surrounding the re-population of black bears in the Big South Fork, there is none at all concerning the introduction of elk in Tennessee."

Both premises are less than accurate. In 1999 and 2000 Fentress, Scott and McCreary counties surrounding BSF all passed County resolutions objecting to the "re-introduction" of black bears. Controversy raged and the "re-introduction" was halted. The population of black bears now in BSF is a result of a "stealth" re-introduction. The parents and grandparents of these bears were anesthetized and trucked to BSF as a government experiment to see how they reacted to being moved from the Smokies. Now they are becoming pests, exactly what TWRA wants so they can "manage" them through hunting. But what about OUR property rights? They are trampled!

If a bear enters your property you cannot shoot it unless it is killing your livestock or YOU. You cannot shoot it for damaging your property, eating your crops, wrecking your bird feeders, or scaring you to death. If you do, you are at fault and will be fined or do jail time. Don't laugh, a fellow in Kentucky lost his antique rifle and had to pay a big fine. The City of Gatlinberg is paying for a full time person to manage human-bear conflict. A male bear's territory range is about 165 miles. The widest part of BSF is 11 miles ----go figure! There are many, many documented stories illustrating what a bad idea reintroduction of large game animals is. The benefit is for those few who can afford a "hunting permit" and for government workers' jobs. There is no restitution for private property damage. This skews the "market". If damages and restitution had to be paid, the program would not be such a great idea. The days of thowing cookies at the bears to get a photo are over. You get a fine for that too!

The ELK reintroduction is another example of government taking away our property rights.

There was indeed controversy over the Elk reintroduction. There were law suits filed over it. The concern being cronic wasting disease. The generalized statement saying there was no controversy is another example of not knowing the facts and making broad generalizations.

Bears and Elk are like roaches in the kitchen. It's only a matter of time before they overrun the place you would like them to stay - that being out of sight and out of your food. They will not stay in "public" land and whether or not you agree with having them in the parks, you have no choice in the matter - Government is deciding for you. Those who think they are cute and "deserve to be there" have their heads in the clouds. The lack of scientific knowledge and statistics surrounding these reintroductions is astounding.

The blog info sounds like a direct feed from a TWRA website. Propaganda! 670,000 acres includes a huge amount of private land.

Out west there are "proposals" now to re-introduce wolves to control the elk. From High Country News:

"About 3,000 elk roam the national park and the Estes Valley. In the absence of native predators, they devour willows and aspens inside the park, and hundreds of them head down-valley to chow on lawns in town. As a result, the National Park Service is seeking to limit the elk population, and some scientists and wildlife activists are promoting a toothy solution - the reintroduction of wolves - to restore this disturbed ecosystem.

So the future is right in front of our noses. So long to those days you could walk in the woods without carrying a gun. So long to those days you felt comfortable letting your kids play in the woods. Oh, I forgot, all the kids are indoors playing video games and eating chips.

Tell me, what is the benefit? We are sacrificing our property rights to benefit government and the few who suck up to them.

Aug 28, 2010 03:11 AM

Leslie Helm

Tennessee Recreational Properties - Jamestown, TN

Real Estate For Trail Riders

Hi, Sue. As the Project Manager for the creation of Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, this is obviously a subject you know a lot about and have strong opinions about. I value your opinion and appreciate your taking the time to respond to this post and, essentially, "set the record straight."

I know that there was....and is....a great deal of controversy over the re-introduction of black bears and, even in the short time I've lived in this area, I can see that the problem is escalating exponentially. I hear more and more riders stating that they carry a gun, which is now legal in the national parks, because they fear encountering a bear. I find THAT as terrifying an idea as encountering a bear! To me, that sounds like a bunch of people going off half cocked...if you will pardon the pun...who will shoot first and ask questions later. I'm feeling endangered by BOTH!

If any rider in any group has a concealed weapon, it is only fair to all of the riders to be aware that someone right next to them could whip out a pistol and fire it, startling horses and riders who may not be prepared. They also need to know how COMPETENT the person is to handle a gun or if he/she will be creating a far more hazardous situation than it might be otherwise.

With regard to the elk...you are right. I did read the TWRA information and I was not aware that there was controversy so I apologize for promulgating erroneous information. Elk are deer, after all and anyone who ever read Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings The Yearling understands the fundamental issue that deer roam and deer graze....and not selectively. In my comment to Kathleen, I questioned why you would "re-introduce" a specie, nurturing the growth of the herd, only to issue more hunting permits in order to control it. That just doesn't make any sense! I also question why you would spend $300,000 a year on this project when it could have just as easily been left alone in the first place.

If my posting faulty information was "lemons," you have turned it into "lemonade" by using it as an opportunity to educate. Thanks.

Aug 28, 2010 06:52 AM

Sue Neff

Tennessee Real Properties - Jamestown, TN

Principal Broker, Jamestown, TN

As to people carrying guns in a group ride: statistics show that "groups" of people walking or people riding are very unlikely to encounter an aggressive bear. If sighted, they usually leave. That's why people assume they are 'shy". No, they are sizing up the potential to be successful in an attack and instinctively know they can't win. It is when you are alone that you should worry. A bear can then see you as prey and since you are no match for a bear without a gun or pepper spray, you become prey. A bear did tract a man on horse in Idaho and eventually the bear made an agressive attack scaring the horse who did a 90 degree turn at speed dumping the guy who then was decapitated by the bear. This is all documented if anyone cares to want the source.

Aug 29, 2010 04:12 AM