The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is working with state agencies in West Virginia and Arizona to expand West Virginia’s elk herd. If all goes as planned, the Mountain State will receive up to 60 elk from Arizona this winter and a total of 180-210 animals over the next three years.
RMEF provided both funding and volunteer manpower support over the past four years for habitat enhancements and a 10,731-acre land acquisition to prepare for the initial 2016 restoration effort that included 24 elk transported from Kentucky to West Virginia’s southern coalfield region, now known as the Tomblin Wildlife Management Area.
RMEF again plans to have a high level of involvement in subsequent reintroduction projects. It is offering funding, information and expertise about trapping methods, holding facilities, elk testing and monitoring procedures, and logistics.
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation assisted with previous successful elk reintroductions in Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Ontario, Canada.