This week, the New York Times reported on the success of Kentucky's elk reintroduction program. Beginning in 1997, 1500 elk were transported to the eastern Kentucky hill country where reclaimed strip mines offered an ideal mosaic of grasslands and forest corridors. Today, more than 13,000 elk roam that region, the largest herd east of the Mississippi River.
Funded by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, a hunting organization, this reintroduction has been hailed for its overwhelming success, returning elk to a region for the first time since the Civil War and restoring a vibrant economy where coal was once king; according to the article, tours, trails and a nature center are planned and benefits to hotels, restaurants and shops are expected to follow. One might argue, however, that, prior to the strip mining, this heavily forested portion of the Appalachian Plateau would not have been so inviting to elk. Furthermore, since wolves are not in the equation, man is the only predator capable of controlling the elk population; in effect, this region of eastern Kentucky will become a large hunting preserve.
Such is the problem with reintroducing large herbivores in areas where they have no natural predators. For example, many of us believe that wolves should be reintroduced to Colorado to control both the largest herds of elk in the country and the moose that were reintroduced. As self proclaimed stewards of the planet, our goal should be to repair damaged ecosystems not create lucrative hunting opportunities (however economically beneficial that might be).
See: Wolves in Colorado, Elk in Michigan, Moose in Colorado
Funded by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, a hunting organization, this reintroduction has been hailed for its overwhelming success, returning elk to a region for the first time since the Civil War and restoring a vibrant economy where coal was once king; according to the article, tours, trails and a nature center are planned and benefits to hotels, restaurants and shops are expected to follow. One might argue, however, that, prior to the strip mining, this heavily forested portion of the Appalachian Plateau would not have been so inviting to elk. Furthermore, since wolves are not in the equation, man is the only predator capable of controlling the elk population; in effect, this region of eastern Kentucky will become a large hunting preserve.
Such is the problem with reintroducing large herbivores in areas where they have no natural predators. For example, many of us believe that wolves should be reintroduced to Colorado to control both the largest herds of elk in the country and the moose that were reintroduced. As self proclaimed stewards of the planet, our goal should be to repair damaged ecosystems not create lucrative hunting opportunities (however economically beneficial that might be).
See: Wolves in Colorado, Elk in Michigan, Moose in Colorado
