Threats And Dangers To Elk: Are They Going Extinct?

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Last Updated on September 17, 2022 by Tommy

Elks are considered the largest among deer species. They have long been used on deer farms where velvet antlers are produced, and this practice has spread around the world. 

In the past, they were excessively hunted for their ivory teeth and velvet antlers which were turned into accessories and used in traditional medicines. 

Join Floofmania to learn more about elks and the possible threats that they are facing.

Are Elk Endangered In Any Way?

Elks are not endangered and are in the “least concerned” category of animal conservation. However, they used to be in danger of going extinct because of extensive hunting and predation. 

Moderate and managed hunting of elks along with conservation efforts in the past has helped preserve their population. Now that they are in protected parks, they are no longer endangered.

Is The Elk A Protected Species In North America?

Yes, elks are a protected species in North America. Laws are in place to protect their species and prevent them from becoming endangered. 

Hunters who hunt elks for entertainment and don’t have a permit to do so are punished because they do a lot of damage to wildlife. 

Elk are considered flagship species and a symbol of successful conservation efforts. The management of these majestic animals includes controlling invasive weeds, selective harvesting of woods, and other practices that would promote high-quality habitats for elk. 

In Which States Are Elk Protected?

Restoration efforts have been successful thanks to the work of various wildlife management agencies, academic institutions, conservation groups, hunters who care about the environment, and other concerned citizens all over North America. 

Elk are being successfully reintroduced to wild areas where they used to live. Below is the list of the states that successfully reintroduced elks into the wild. 

What Plays A Role In The Legality Of Hunting Elk?

Even though some people think hunting is cruel, pointless, and unethical, it is still the “backbone” of wildlife conservation in the United States. 

Wildlife managers use field research and harvest data to make population growth models and set management rules. This helps them decide the length of the hunting season and the number of animals that can be hunted. 

Once these rules are in place, wildlife managers keep an eye on the population while researching and making future management decisions based on the information they find.

The hunt will also depend partly on the goodwill of lawmakers and citizens. This will encourage hunters to understand conservation and act more ethically. Programs are starting to be put in place, usually through the state hunter education program.

How Many Elk Are There In The US and Canada Today?

The total elk population in the United States at the moment is estimated to be 1 to 1.2 million, while there are approximately 70,000 elks in Canada.  

Did There Use To Be More Elk?

Elks used to be more distributed and larger in number before. Its wider distribution in the past includes Eurasia, Western Europe, and southern Sweden. They once numbered up to 10 million individuals in Mexico to northern Alberta and the Atlantic to Pacific coasts. 

Are Elk Endangered Outside Of The US and Canada?

Elks are not endangered outside the United States and Canada. Although there has been a decrease in their population in recent years, they are still considered among the least concerned species. 

What Has Affected Elk Populations?

There are a lot of factors that affect the elk population, which include excessive hunting, availability of food, landscape changes, and extreme weather. 

Might Elk Become Endangered In The Future?

Elk might become endangered in the future if they are not properly managed and protected. Excessive hunting and habitat loss brought on by human activity are proven to be one of the biggest factors that may affect their population.

They have long been under stress from human development and leisure, and it has now reached a point where it significantly affects their ability to reproduce. 

Continuous loss of habitat due to construction, illegal logging, grazing, and other industrial land uses are possible reasons their population is at risk. Elk in populated areas and agricultural settings can pose management problems due to the loss of their natural winter range.

What Might Happen If Elk Went Extinct?

If elk went extinct, the food chain would be greatly affected. Elk populations are wisely managed to help in promoting ecosystem health and biodiversity. 

If elk are removed from the food chain, the animals that consume and prey on them must look for alternative food sources or risk going hungry. This is because they provide a significant food source for bigger predators. 

The populations of plants are also affected, which will cause a great imbalance in the ecosystem. This is because they also have a significant role in influencing the plant communities which they inhabit. 

Have Some Kind Of Elk Already Gone Extinct?

There are species of elk that used to roam around the United States and neighboring countries that have now become extinct. Here is the list of those species:

Irish Elk

Irish elk, sometimes known as “giant deer,” is a type of ancient cervid found as fossils in Pleistocene deposits across Europe and Asia. They are considered the biggest elk species, and their size is almost the same as the modern moose.

Merriam’s Elk

The Merriam’s elk is a subspecies of elk that disappeared from the dry regions of Arizona and the southwestern United States. Since Europeans arrived, unchecked hunting and cattle grazing have wiped out this subspecies.

Eastern Elk

The Eastern Elk is an extinct elk subspecies that once roamed the northeastern United States, eastern Canada, and southern Mexico prior to the civil war. They are represented as the earliest known subspecies of elks.

What Are The Main Threats To Elk?

Although they are not endangered at the moment, elks still experience a lot of dangers. The main threats to elks are the following:

Predators

Elk numbers in Northern America, specifically in Yellowstone National Park, have experienced a sharp population reduction, primarily due to an increase in the population of their predators. 

Wolves have returned to a large portion of their historic range in North America, and the elk population has decreased tremendously. This demonstrates how the wolf population and regional losses in elk abundance are related. 

Elk are the primary prey for different species of carnivores. Their predators include the following:

• Mountain lions
• Gray wolves
• Bears.
• Coyotes

Deadly diseases

Diseases can also pose a serious threat to elks. The brain, spinal cord, and numerous other tissues of domesticated and wild elk are all impacted by Chronic Wasting Disease, a fatal and degenerative condition. 

They may acquire the illness immediately by coming into contact with contaminated bodily fluids and tissue or unintentionally by being exposed to the disease in the environment, such as through contaminated food or water.

Habitat loss 

Habitat is vital for elk, and the loss of their sanctuaries can cause great harm. 

Because of the loss of trees, it becomes more difficult for elk to move across the landscape safely because predators like wolves and bears can more easily prey on them. 

Habitat loss also limits the elk’s typical behaviors like herding and prevents animals’ access to necessities like food, water, and shelter. Stress, harm, disease, and death are further effects.

Human activities

Human activity has a huge impact on elk. Their habitats are being destroyed to make space for agriculture, homes, highways, and pipelines. 

Urban development

Their habitat loss is mainly associated with and consequently suffers as a result of urban development. Elks, which highly rely on plants, specifically grasses, Bluegrasses, wheatgrasses, bunchgrasses, and fescue as their food source are threatened. 

Human disturbances 

Wildlife populations of elk may be affected by human disturbances that can also change their wildlife behavior. For instance, they may become more cautious about human presence, which will affect food intake and reproductive success.

Other aspects of industrial growth that disturb the population of elk are because tourists and ATV drivers might disturb the elk’s habitats. 

Hunting

People hunt elk for its economic benefit. Elk have a high value because of their antlers and ivory teeth. Hence, their biggest threats include excessive hunting, tourism, and selling their meat, pelts, and other items. 

But hunting elks is not entirely wrong as long as it’s done with moderation. Elk herds are all managed by hunters to keep them from outgrowing their habitats’ carrying capacity. Without hunting, many animals may overpopulate and become more vulnerable to diseases.

Are Elk Threatened By Climate Change?

Elk are threatened by climate change. Potential changes in temperature affect highland plants and animal mitigations. This can be in the form of decreased snowfall in mountains which will significantly affect the way of living of elks. 

Climate change could also bring heat stress, parasites, and diseases. Temperature fluctuations will also make it more difficult for elks to survive. Sudden temperature changes will reduce their food availability, and forage will be scarce.

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