JUNE 2018 • COUNTRY LIFE IN BC


Elk sightings have producers


concerned Elk haven’t been seen on Gulf Islands in nearly five decades


by BARBARA JOHNSTONE GRIMMER


PENDER ISLAND –


Residents of the Southern Gulf Islands are sharing photos of newly arrived Roosevelt elk in the last few weeks on social media, creating quite a stir after an absence of decades. Translocation of elk from


areas of high population to low population have been part of the provincial government’s elk management plan for the past 40 years. Appearing to be more of an unintended consequence of the program rather than an intentional relocation, the appearance of the elk in the southern-most archipelago of islands in the Strait of Georgia took everyone by surprise. Prevost, Salt Spring, Mayne, Pender and Saturna Islands all have experienced sightings of roaming elk this spring. Sightings were confirmed


by conservation officers and Parks Canada biologists as reports and photographs came in. Richard Lamy,


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superintendent of Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, said the male, sub-adults are likely siblings and the two photographed on Salt Spring in April are probably the same two photographed on Saturna Island in May. Elk have not been seen on Salt Spring since the 60s, according to sheep producer Ted Ackerman. “I saw a single male in the mid-1950s; another male about 10 years later.” Many are happy to see the


return of the majestic elk. Farmers see it differently.


Destructive Roosevelt elk have caused


extensive damage to farms on Vancouver Island. “We don’t need elk on


agricultural land,” says Tanya Vanden Dungen, who with a few family members milk 165 Holstein cows on their farm south of Duncan which has been operating since 1977. “The elk showed up 15


years ago – first, one bull, then three, increasing to 44 elk in the field this winter. Just last week we saw 15. They knock


The appearance of elk on several Gulf Islands this spring for the first time in decades has farmers concerned about control efforts and compensation for potential crop damage. DEREK MELTON PHOTO


down fences, trample newly seeded pasture and four years ago, they ate all the corn.” Elk are clever. Herds are led


throughout the season by a lead cow. In many agricultural areas, settlements are too close together to use rifles. Bow and arrow creates a hide and seek game for the elk; they spot the hunters, then hide in the woods until dark. Oliver Balme of Cobble Hill


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