Theodore Roosevelt NP to begin Culling Elk

In an effort to manage the number of elk located in the park, park officials and volunteer hunters may soon be able to take the number down. They will be cutting the population in half once the park's Elk Management Plan get final approval later this month. The plan is to bring down the elk population to protect resources in the park.

The audit of the elk population in the park this year shows that there are around 950 animals, more than double the 200-400 that the management plan calls for. Though the number is this high, there is not extensive changes in the parks vegetation or environment yet. The environmental impact statement is waiting to be pushed through and the plan is to have park employees lead a group of volunteer hunters through the park to cull the animals. If that doesn't work it suggests alternatives that they can fall back on. The earliest that the culling could begin will be in the fall of 2010.