| In 1997, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources began reintroducing elk (Cervus elaphus) into eastern Kentucky. During the first 3 years of the reintroduction effort 718 elk were translocated from 5 western states. The objectives of my research were to: (1) document the elk restoration effort; (2) examine demographic characteristics of the reintroduced elk herd; (3) examine elk movement characteristics; and (4) determine the factors that influence release site fidelity of elk.; Seventy-one (15%) of the 484 radio-collared elk died within 6 weeks of release from capture-related injuries. Other causes of mortality included automobile collisions (n = 9), poaching (n = 3), meningeal worm (n = 3), removal of out-of-zone problem animals (n = 2), other (n = 8), and unknown (n = 25). After 2 years, annual survival ranged from 0.89 for yearling males to 0.95 for yearling females.; Calving rates during 1998, 1999, and 2000 were 61%, 53%, and 92%, respectively. While the proportion of males that were yearlings during the rut declined from 89% in 1998 to 31% in 1999, there was no effect on calving rate. However, the calving season was 30 days longer when breeding was dominated by yearling males. The low calving rate in 1999 was the result of temporary Allee effects.; After 1 year, release site fidelity for the 3 sites were 53, 55, and 82 percent. The site with the highest fidelity was privately-owned, 15 percent open, and had the highest amount of edge compared to other release sites. The 2 remaining sites contained large amounts of expansive open land or forested cover with less edge. Additionally, both sites were publicly-owned and experienced a higher degree of human disturbance. After three years, twenty-five (5%) of 484 radio-collared elk moved to areas outside the restoration zone.; The return of elk has the potential to restore ecological and evolutionary processes that are critical to the structure, function, and durability of eastern Kentucky ecosystems. Continued monitoring of this elk population will be necessary to: (1) determine if the observed demographic parameters change significantly over time; and (2) ensure that the elk population does not exceed a level at which the flora, fauna, and ecological processes are negatively impacted. |
