Text Box: Tendency to Domesticate Roosevelt’s elk have a strong tendency to take up permanent residency in pastures and just stay there. There are two areas in Oregon (Dean’s Creek and Jewell Meadow) and one in northern California where this happened and the land was eventually brought into public ownership and elk preserves established. Visitors can see elk on these sites virtually any day of the year and any time of day. They never leave. Occasionally the Department of Fish and Wildlife will transplant some out if the population gets too high for available forage. Elk on these sites become oblivious to traffic and people looking at them. There is one of these sites about seven miles from the home of Allegany Outfitters on private property. The owner is a great lady who loves her elk, but does not allow hunting although the elk leave her place at times and get hunted on public land. Occasionally she will allow a handicapped hunter or a youth to hunt. The city of Newport, about 200 miles north of us, has a resident herd of elk that  moved to town about 10 years ago and have become permanent "residents."  At first folks thought it was great to have elk in town.  But as the herd grew in size and boldness they began causing problems, such as eating shrubbery, punching holes in lawns with hooves, and causing traffic accidents.  Now the city is grappling with the "city dwelling" elk and so far no solution in sight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

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