Northwest Wyoming Elk Study

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By Penny Preston

Story Published: Sep 15, 2007 at 8:48 PM MST

Story Updated: Sep 15, 2007 at 8:48 PM MST

CODY, WYOMING - There was a surprise for biologists studying elk and wolves in northwest Wyoming. A Wyoming Game and Fish biologist tells KULR 8 pregnancy rates are very low for cow elk that travel in and out of Yellowstone.
Wyoming Game and Fish biologists, with help from U.S. Fish and Wildlife biologist Mike Jiminez, captured and radio collared elk and wolves in the Sunlight Basin-Crandall area of Northwest Wyoming last winter. They're hoping to find out how weather, habitat, and wolves affect elk populations.
While the study is in it's infancy, biologists are already learning something that surprises them. The study's principal investigator, Doug McWhirter said, "One of the things that really jumped out was that the migratory elk from Sunlight and Crandall had extremely low pregnancy rates. Fifty-nine percent of the cows we bled were pregnant. That's extremely low. The Absaroka Front elk that are inhabiting mostly private lands that we discussed earlier have pregnancy rates of 84%."
McWhirter says Wyoming hunters are being asked to send in blood samples to confirm the study findings. He'll give more details on the ongoing study at the Draper Museum Lunchtime Expedition in Cody Tuesday, October 1st.

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