Elk herd adjusting well to new nome

Mike Solomon, co-chair of the Northwestern Ontario Elk Restoration Coalition, is pleased with last Friday’s release of elk into the wild from their pen at Cameron Lake.
“Although I was not on hand when they were released, I have heard that they did very well and appear to be adjusting to their new surroundings,” he noted.
While Solomon said they have lost one elk since the second herd arrived Feb. 21, he’s not concerned the remaining animals have any health problems.
“Again, I was not there so I do not know what happened,” Solomon said. “However, I am certain it had to do with the stress of the transfer. This is not an uncommon thing to happen.
“In fact, we are pleased that we have only lost one and not more.”
Accompanied by NOERC co-chair Murray English of Kenora, Solomon visited the pen site on Sunday to bring food to the animals.
“We decided to bring up some hay and mineral supplements for the elk before they have to go out and forage on their own,” he explained. “When we got up there, we saw that three elk had returned to the pen and were still inside when we got there.
“They had returned to where they were comfortable and we thought that was very amusing.”
But with the exception of those three lingering elk, the remaining animals no longer are in the vicinity of the pen although Solomon admitted there were signs they animals were still nearby.
“There were lots of signs that the animals were around,” he noted. “Now that they have spread out, we will be keeping track of them through radio-telemetry.”
With the use of a radio collar, each animal will be tracked by Lakehead University research student Tracie MacIntosh.
“Each elk has its own frequency and number so they can be followed,” said Solomon. “In the long-term, we will be able to keep track of where the animals have gone and where they have moved to.”
Now with the elk on their own, Solomon is hoping residents will continue to offer their support in tracking the animals throughout the district.
“We really appreciate it when people let us know where the elk are,” he said. “It is very encouraging when we get a report that someone has seen them.
“We are very satisfied with the project and we are already making plans for next year.”