What factors contribute to the aging elk population, despite their adequate reproduction?
Overview
Our question, “what factors contribute to the aging elk population, despite their adequate reproduction?” came from our interest after researching elk and learning more than 50% of the elk population is over 9 years old, and the average elk only lives until about 15 or 16. We were interested then if the elk were reproducing. The unexpected answer we received is that they are reproducing adequately with most elk prepared to reproduce, birthing their offspring with a gestation of about 262 days. We then had to think of other reasons for the elk’s aging population if the cause was not because their inability to reproduce. Thus we came up with our question with the continuum being just one factor contributing to the aging population on one end, and many factors that contribute on the other end of the spectrum. So, is it just the wolves doing most of the damage, or are the other factors significant enough to cause such an alarming shift in the average age of the elk?
The aging population is worrisome to biologists and park officials because as the elk age they can no longer be very productive or recover from population declines. Additionally, if the elk population declines, it will take food away from the predators who prey on the elk. Therefore, they will start hunting the other animals more heavily, thus affecting their population numbers. No single factor has been determined as to why the elk population is aging, so we will be considering multiple factors throughout our research in the park.
Many people like to blame the wolves for the aging elk population, however, they may not be the sole factor. One reason for the increasing average age could be the profit to be made for outfitters who facilitate elk hunts. On average, these trips can cost about $4,000, thus leading to more outfitters providing elk hunting outages. In addition to hunting, disease could be killing the young elk. Both Brucellosis and Chronic Wasting Disease have become prevalent in the elk population. Finally, bears could be a contributing factor to the aging elk population. Studies have shown that bears could be killing more elk than wolves, but that still does not explain why the population is aging. We are looking to find a connection between changes in the park’s ecosystem and the elk population to help explain why the population is aging and becoming less prevalent.
Get Involved!
If you would like to contribute to our aging elk conversation please feel free to comment on our blog or use the hashtag #WheresTheElk on Twitter or Instagram to share your input. We will be aggregating the information from the hashtag to share your input on the blog. Also, you can follow our research on Instagram @elk1luynp. Feel free to give us a follow and tag us in any interesting information you may find!
Learn More
Listed below you will find sources on the elk population if you are interested in learning more on your own!
“Why Are Yellowstone’s Elk Disappearing?”
http://discovermagazine.com/2014/may/16-elk-vanishing-act
“State Study Finds Yellowstone Elk Aging”
“Study: Wolves Not the Cause of Elk Population Decline in Wyoming”
http://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/newshound/2013/06/study-wolves-not-cause-wyoming-elk-decline
“Mystery in Yellowstone”
https://www.smithsonianchannel.com/shows/mystery-in-yellowstone/0/3426461
“Aging Elk From Their Canine Teeth”
http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting/planahunt/huntingGuides/dea/agingElkBrochure.html
Filed in Stewardship One Response so far
Thanks for this insightful information! I think that many factors contribute to the aging elk population, not just the wolves killing young elk. Brucellosis definitely affects the elk population, causing a decline in amount of living elk born which in turn results in an older population.