WDFW to begin collaring elk in the Blue Mountains

SPOKANE – The Washington Department Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will begin operations to capture and radio-collar adult female elk in the Blue Mountains on Dec. 9 to better understand factors affecting the population growth rate of elk in the area.

A release from WDFW says they plan to capture and radio-collar 100 adult female elk in Columbia, Garfield, Walla Walla, and Asotin Counties from Dec. 9-19. Biologists will then monitor the elk over the next two years to obtain data and insights into what impacts survival and reproduction, and ultimately the population growth rate. It will also help understanding how nutrients in the environment influence the population growth rate.

“We hope to learn more about the elk population’s resilience to weather events, such as drought and severe winters, as well as disease such as chronic wasting disease,” said Dr. Melia DeVivo, ungulate research scientist at WDFW.

The collaring is conducted in the winter when elk are in large groups that are easy to spot. WDFW says that because conducting captures in winter can cause some stress to animals, biologists will take precautions including conducting short pursuits, completing collaring quickly, and monitoring animals’ temperature, breathing, and heart rate during the process.

Biologists will also work to avoid any actions that could cause elk to run through fences or scare livestock in the area.

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Elkhorn Media Group