Aerial surveys in the southeast corner of British Columbia, known as the East Kootenay, show elk populations are falling. The latest numbers show an estimate of 6,700 to 6,900 elk. The same survey in 2008 showed approximately 14,115 elk.
“We’re pretty disappointed, it’s definitely not the direction that we want wildlife populations to be headed in,” said Jeff Berdusco, East Kootenay Wildlife Association spokesperson, told Summit 107 FM. “When it comes to elk, moose, mule deer, it looks like sheep, everything is kind of trending down right now, it’s kind of a scary time with people taking this to hear.”
The survey indicates about 14 bull elk and 38 calves for every 100 cow elk.