Elk Info

Clam Lake Wisconsin Elk Herd Information - Northern Wisconsin Elk Reintroduction Project, Chequamegon National Forest

Reintroduction of Elk to Northern Wisconsin

Elk were reintroduced to the wild in Wisconsin in 1995, through a partnership between the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Today, more and more visitors come to the Clam Lake area seeking a glimpse of an elk or for the opportunity of hearing the wild bugle of a bull in the fall.

Please take care and take heed of elk crossing signs and flashing lights posted on area roads marking some common locations of members of the Clam Lake elk herd. Please drive safely in elk crossing zones.

Current Status (from Wisconsin DNR elk biologists Laine Stowell & Matt McKay):

The first calf found in 2011 was estimated born on May 20th, thus the 2010/2011 elk year ended May 19th. We observed one 2010 calf lost in the first half of May, resulting in an end of Elk Year 2010/2011 population estimate of 151 elk. At the beginning of Elk Year 2010/2011 we were at 131 elk.

This means the Clam Lake herd grew 15 percent during this elk year. We estimate that 33 calves were born this calving season. However, we've already lost 9 of the 22 calves found (41 percent mortality) therefore, we estimate that a total of 14 calves have died thus far. These losses, plus the 2 cows lost leave 169 elk as of July 20, 2011. Remember, we still have 10 months where that number will reduce further.

History of Elk Project:

Elk (Cervus elaphus), Wisconsin's largest native mammal, once ranged over most of North America and throughout Wisconsin. They were extirpated in the mid to late 1800's with the onset of human settlement due to over hunting and a rapid decline in habitat. Elk were last recorded in Wisconsin in the 1886 and historic records show elk once inhabited at least 50 of the state's 72 counties. An attempt at bringing elk back to the state in the 1930's failed because of poaching and the last four elk were reportedly killed in 1948. Although elk primarily inhabited the prairie/savannah lands of the southern portion of the state, today, most of the currently suitable elk habitat is in the north. This change is due to the large scale conversion of land in the south from prairie to agriculture.

In 1989 the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) was directed by the State Legislature to explore the likelihood of successfully reintroducing elk, moose, and caribou. The resulting publication "Feasibility Assessment for the Reintroduction of North American Elk, Moose, and Caribou into Wisconsin" (Parker 1990) determined that an elk reintroduction effort could succeed, while reintroductions of moose or caribou likely would not.

In 1993 the Wisconsin State Legislature authorized the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point to evaluate the potential for reintroducing elk to the Great Divide District of the Chequamegon National Forest near Clam Lake. During February 1995, 25 elk were trapped in Michigan, held in a quarantine facility for 90 days while undergoing rigorous disease testing, and shipped to the Clam Lake release site. After being held in a pen for a 2-week acclimation period, the elk were released into the Chequamegon National Forest May 17, 1995.

As noted in Kathryn A. Kahler's article "A Herd in the Balance", "the first four years of research on the experimental herd were headed up by the late Dr. Ray Anderson, then a professor at UW-Stevens Point. Anderson and his students oversaw the careful research and methodologies that would form the routines followed by today's DNR elk project team. Those first few years, with enthusiastic support from thousands of volunteers and benefactors, saw such success that Anderson, in a 1998 research report predicted that "at the current rate of growth, the herd could number approximately 500 in 11 years."

That optimism has been tempered by a kind of "one step forward, two steps back" reality. Prior to calving, the herd in the spring of 2010 was 131 animals, a far cry from Anderson's prediction. Even so, there is reason for optimism amid elk enthusiasts of all ilks, some of whom look forward to a year when the population reaches a target goal of 200 animals that might allow a limited bull hunting season.

"We are at least a couple of years away from that," says Stowell. "Once we get closer we'll need to establish a hunting education program for successful applicants. An elk that weighs several hundred pounds is much harder to kill than its smaller deer cousin, so we'll need to educate hunters about elk biology and caution them against shooting at multiple targets if they think the first one didn't go down."
Until then Stowell and his crew will continue with the seasonal routines that make up their "elk year" – spring calf-searching, summer habitat improvement, fall bugling observation, winter trapping and year-round telemetry monitoring and mortality tracking."

Elk Mortality:

Elk are classified as protected, not as an endangered or threatened species in the State of Wisconsin. Since there is no hunting season on elk, it is illegal to shoot an elk. Hunters, especially in the Chequamegon National Forest, need to be able to distinguish an elk from a deer.

The second most common cause of elk death after predation (primarily wolf and bear) is vehicle collision, with over 30 verified deaths since 1995. Six years ago, DNR elk biologists launched a three-pronged effort to prevent elk-vehicle collisions. First, they began using a reflective, blaze orange radio collar on cows to increase their visibility during the dark and dusk periods when most vehicle collisions occur. Second, they moved their winter trapping efforts farther away from state and county highways, drawing elk away from roads during the higher risk period of winter.

Lastly, in December 2006 with the help of volunteers and a grant from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, they installed an elk crossing warning system in three zones at the center of the Clam Lake elk activity area. Each zone is one-half mile wide and two miles long along portions of State Highway 77 where most elk vehicle collisions had been observed. A flashing light on each of the cautionary highway signs is triggered by the elks' own radio collars when they come within a mile of a receiving station. There are three adjoining receiving station zones spread over six miles of highway where both elk collisions and telemetry have identified high risk areas.

Elk Education Kiosk:

An interactive touch screen kiosk was recently retrofitted into an existing sign board located at the junction of State Highways 77 and GG in Clam Lake, Wisconsin. The kiosk is designed to provide visitors to the area with expansive information about the resident elk herd and their habitat. The program provides information about the history of elk in Wisconsin and even has a video clip of the original elk reintroduction. Most importantly, the program contains other tools and information to help visitors experience elk including wildlife spotting guides, maps and directions to nearby viewing areas. The kiosk was made possible in part by a state grant from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. The kiosk was designed and installed by Imperial Multimedia a Wisconsin-based company that specializes in interpreting nature and the outdoors. This technology was first put to test in Wisconsin State Parks back in 2003 and subsequently has been rolled out across the nation in various venues including state parks, zoos and aquariums. While Imperial Multimedia did most of the heavy lifting to make the project possible they received invaluable help from the DNR's Elk Biologists Laine Stowell and Matt McKay along with local help from Bud Rubeck and other local volunteers who donated time and materials to reconstruct the site. This tool should help educate and guide National Forest Visitors to a safe and meaningful experience.

The Elk Information Kiosk can be found in front (or on the east side) of the Clam Lake Junction gas station in Clam Lake Community Park. The Community Park (kiosk) is handicap accessible.

Wisconsin Elk Herd Online:

• Wisconsin DNR Clam Lake Herd Updates
• Clam Lake Elk Herd Range & Driving Routes
• Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation National Site
• Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Wisconsin Web Page
• FAQ's
• Wisconsin DNR Elk Photo Gallery

For more information on Elk in Wisconsin, please contact:

Laine Stowell
WI DNR
10220 State Hwy 27
Hayward, WI 54843
715-634-9658 x 3527
Wisconsin DNR Elk Website