Spread the news

Dear sir:
I seek your input for Ontario’s elk restoration program and, in particular, the Northwestern Ontario’s Elk Restoration Coalition (NOERC) by publishing some good news about the local elk herd.
The herd, released in 2000 and 2001 at Cameron Lake southeast of Sioux Narrows, numbered a few over 100. Some official estimates in the next couple of years were published as being nearly a quarter of that number remaining.
This was due to predators, poaching, and/or natural disease. Much of this negativism came about from speculation.
NOERC, on the other hand, has, throughout the same period, maintained at least double those elk numbers are alive.
I believed we now have pretty good evidence to show that more than 100, and quite likely as many as 145, wild elk are now on the ground in and around the Rainy River and Kenora districts.
NOERC co-chair Murray English of Kenora has spent many days this summer capturing elk photo images by remote camera in the most populated locations. His pictures certainly support our positive estimates compared with the official count.
For the seven or eight years our coalition has been in existence, conservation clubs from Atikokan, Dryden, Ear Falls, Fort Frances, Ignace, and Kenora, as well as many volunteer workers from those communities, have supported NOERC and remained steadfast in support of elk restoration in Northwestern Ontario.
Many professional and business folk who realize the tourism potential have stepped up with money and in-kind donations, as well.
It would be a kindness to all those who continue to support the program if you recognize and publish the good news of the developing wild elk herd in Northwestern Ontario.
Thank you,
M.W. ‘Mike’ Solomon B.Sc.
Co-chair, NOERC
Fort Frances, Ont.