Over 100 attend public meeting in Van Buren on elk reintroduction

VAN BUREN, Mo. -- More than 100 people from across Southeast Missouri turned out Monday evening at Van Buren High School for the first of three meetings aimed at gathering public opinion about a possible restoration of elk to the region, the Daily American Republic newspaper reported.

Elk are native to Missouri, but haven't been found in the state since the mid-1800s.

The Missouri Department of Conservation completed a feasibility study on elk restoration in 2000 and held public meetings then, but ultimately decided to put those plans on hold because of concerns of landowners and an emerging, nearby chronic wasting disease threat, which, to this date, has not materialized in Missouri.

The proposed restoration site is located in Carter, Reynolds and Shannon counties, centered around the Peck Ranch Conservation Area. If approved, the initial elk release would total between 80 and 120 animals.

The restoration "has never gotten off the horizon," said MDC Deputy Director Tom Draper. "We've still been getting input from citizens and still get questions."

In 2000, a number of landowners in the target area, as well as the Missouri Farm Bureau and Missouri Cattlemen's Association, voiced strong opposition to an elk release, citing concerns about property damage, the spread of disease to cattle and collisions with vehicles.

MDC officials, Draper said, have learned considerably more in the 10 years since the issue was brought up, and believe they can mitigate any issues that might arise now if elk are released.

For instance, Draper said, MDC has developed a disease testing protocol with the Missouri Department of Agriculture and would acquire animals from states known to be disease free.

"What we would do is a soft release," Draper said. "The elk will be confined in an enclosure for about six weeks" while being tested before their release.

In addition, all the released animals, Draper said, would be microchipped and fitted with radio tracking collars "so we can trace them."

Vehicle accidents "are one of the top concerns," said MDC Resource Scientist Lonnie Hansen, who currently oversees the state's whitetail deer program.

"Elk behavior is quite a bit different than whitetail deer, and elk seem to be a little more wary of roads," Hansen said.

As far as property damage concerns, Hansen said, the key to help prevent problems is to "provide excellent elk habitat and keep them on public property as much as possible."

Hansen said there is no question elk will move onto private property, but officials could trap and relocate any animal causing problems.

Ken Kane of Doniphan, Mo., attended Monday's meeting in support of the restoration, and after living in Colorado for 18 years, he feels the vehicle collision concerns about elk are unfounded.

"I spent a lot of time driving back and forth to Denver and never had an accident with an elk," he said. "A car collision ... that's just not going to happen. A deer is one thing, an elk is another."

Leslie Holloway, director of Missouri Farm Bureau's office of governmental affairs, isn't convinced.

"We developed a policy opposing elk restoration in 2000 and that policy has been reaffirmed," Holloway said. "We've had some members say they are definitely opposed to it, and their main concern is public safety along the major roadways."

Holloway also isn't so sure about MDC's disease testing program.

"They believe they have addressed the disease testing protocol, but I don't think they really believe they have addressed it," she said.

Overall, Holloway said, the program would "impose an increased risk to landowners. These are the people who stand to suffer the unintended consequences."

In answer to Farm Bureau's concerns, Hansen said, MDC only needs to look at statistics from nearby states that have had successful elk restoration programs, specifically Arkansas and Kentucky.

Information obtained from the Arkansas Fish and Game Department through MDC shows that state, with an elk population of around 500 animals, averages only one reported vehicle collision with an elk per year.

It's important to note, also, that Arkansas' elk area has a road density of 2.1 miles of road per square mile of habitat, while Missouri's proposed area has 1.2 miles of road for the same size area.

Arkansas data also shows that, in the last 20 years, there were 25 reports of pasture damage and 27 for fence damage, which amounts to just more than two such complaints per year.

"I understand people's concerns about impacts to their way of life," Draper said. "MDC wants to be a good neighbor, and if elk negatively impact private lands, we'll take care of them."

If elk are established in Missouri, Draper said, hunting would be the primary management tool used to control their population numbers.

"The habitat will only hold so many elk," Draper said, "so we'll use hunting to ensure the herd doesn't exceed the supporting habitat."

Hunting and wildlife watching, MDC officials said, is expected to be a great boon for the state's economy.

"Tourism is a big way of life here," Draper said.

Kane agreed. "It's a super idea from a tourism and economic standpoint," he said.

Data from the 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation shows 2.2 million Missourians enjoy wildlife watching, spending $869 million annually to do so. The survey also estimates wildlife watching supports more than 18,000 jobs statewide.

"Missourians are tied to the land and the wildlife," Draper said. "We have the opportunity here to restore a native species, and the elk can coexist with other land uses. There may be some issues, but we can work together to fix those."

A second public meeting was scheduled for 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Eminence High School cafeteria, and a final meeting will be held from 5 to 8 p.m Thursday at Ellington High School.

For those who cannot attend a meeting, MDC will take comments on their website at www.mdc.mo.gov/contact-us/elk-restoratio.... Comments also can be mailed to: MDC Director's Office, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, Mo., 65102-0180

After considering all comments received, Draper said, MDC staff will make a recommendation to the Conservation Commission, which will act on the measure at its October meeting.