Vancouver Island farmers struggle to deal with threatened elk species
Farmers in the Cowichan Valley are losing crops and dealing with property and field damage caused by Roosevelt Elk, which have become a regular fixture on some farms in the area.
The threatened species typically moves to lower elevations during the winter months searching for more plentiful food, but in the last few years, in the Duncan area, some herds have been staying year-round on farmland.
In North Oyster, where Howie Davis has farmed cattle for more than 50 years, a herd of 12 elk showed up in December four years ago. Fortunately for him, they've so far always left by February or March.
"The herds are expanding every year," said Davis.
In the few months the elk are on the farm, Davis said they cause a lot of damage, knocking down fences, tearing the hay fields up with their hooves and eating whatever hay is growing over the winter "right down to nothing."
The elk damage to the hay fields has reduced the number of harvests from four to three in a season, said Davis.
"That’s one crop you don’t get to sell, less income," he said. "[The provincial government has] been compensating me for that … not to what it costs."
A University of Alberta research project intended to reduce human-elk conflict in the Cowichan Valley started in August 2021.
The team has set up multiple trail cameras in the valley to gather data on the herds' numbers and movements.
"To implement any sort of management strategies we need to have a good understanding of what’s happening with the population, how many are there, where are they on the landscape and how are they interacting with human infrastructure?" said Kate Rutherford, a masters student at the University of Alberta.
Rutherford says the provincial government has put a lot of effort into increasing the elk herds in the Cowichan Valley to create a healthy, sustainable population, which seems to have paid off.
"Everyone wants the population to be at healthy levels," she said.
"There’s also that balance, right, with maintaining a healthy population size but also minimizing the occurrence of human-elk conflict, which is going to increase as urbanization increases," she added.
Researchers are also planning to test deterrents to keep elk out of farms.
"We plan to broadcast predator vocalization on the perimeter of these fields where we’re currently monitoring elk using camera traps, and they will be broadcasted when triggered by animal movement," said Rutherford.
The team is also asking landowners in the area to contribute to their research by reporting elk sightings to them either through the iNaturalist app or by emailing the team directly at rooselk@ualberta.ca
The researchers hope to share their work with farmers and the provincial government as way to help with the management of Roosevelt Elk.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
AS IT HAPPENED Wildfire reaches Jasper Wednesday night, causes 'significant loss'
One of two wildfires threatening Jasper National Park reached the townsite Wednesday night and caused 'significant loss.'
Alberta calls in army to assist with wildfire situation
Alberta has called in the Canadian Armed Forces to help assist with the worsening wildfire situation in the province.
Biden explains why he ended re-election bid in Oval Office address
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Norad intercepts Russian and Chinese bombers operating together near Alaska in apparent first
The North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska Wednesday in what appears to be the first time the two countries have been intercepted while operating together.
2 Canadians being 'sent home immediately,' removed from Olympic team after drone incident
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Vacations, meals, booze: Contractor used $100K of charity's money for personal expenses, B.C. court finds
A B.C. man who was hired to help a non-profit build a food hub but instead spent the money on personal expenses – including travel, restaurants, booze and cannabis – has been ordered to pay more than $120,000 in damages.
Male, female killed, 2 others injured in 'gun battle' outside Toronto plaza: police
Two people are dead and two others suffered serious injuries following a shooting that police have described as a 'gun battle' outside a plaza in Scarborough, Ont. early Wednesday morning.