CATTLE VS. ELK-A herd of Tule elk located at Point Reyes National Seashore (north of San Francisco) may soon be hunted to maintain the population numbers. This is the same National Seashore that was involved in a debate of whether an estuary or oyster farm was more important in 2012. The estuary ended up being worth more to the state. Now the Tule elk population on Point Reyes is caught between a similar political battle over whether cows or Tule elk are more important to save.
In August the National Park Service (“NPS”) released a plan which allows shooting up to 15 Tule elk to maintain the population at 120. The amount of 120 has been determined to be the amount that could co-exist with the cattle population. David Press, a wildlife biologist for the NPS said the elk in the seashore can’t be moved to other areas because they have Johne’s Disease; an incurable wasting disease. One question is which species caused the disease, as both cows and elk are susceptible to Johne’s Disease.
Tule elk are native to the California coast and were found by Sir Francis Drake in his 1579 expedition. It is estimated that in 1850 there were 500,000 Tule elk in California. The California population of Tule elk was hunted to only 30 and remained on a ranch near Bakersfield. Herds in California have increased population figures due to restoration efforts. But they have also declined at times due to NPS allowed hunts to maintain specific populations. The Tule elk at Point Reyes reflect the conflict in the NPS as a whole. Are 5 million Californian heads of cattle worth more than the 5,700 Tule elk that remain in existence?
The new NPS plan which allows for the shooting of 15 Tule elk is preferred. As this would extend ranching lease terms that 24 families hold for up to 20 years. The matter was held open to the public. Conservationists and ranchers traded their opinions of the proposed hunting allowances on National Park lands. The Californian environmentalist outdoors group, the Sierra Club, is asking for an entirely new approach; one that does not involving hunting an almost endangered species. Judd Howell of the Marin Independent Journal, along with others, has the opinion that ranching in Point Reyes should end and the NPS should remove the elk fences in place.
California already allows limited Tule elk hunting each year. Tags are extremely limited, but the opportunity to hunt the rare bread is one many hunters look forward to each year. Allowing the hunting of 15 animals suffering from a wasting disease may benefit the herd in the long run. Allowing the herd to grow, and the disease to spread, could cause harm to both Tule elk herds and cattle populations in Point Reyes.
What are your thoughts on allowing hunting of the Point Reyes Tule elk herd? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Is elk meat worth the hype? Check out Terron Hunt’s take on the benefits of elk meat (psst . . it’s better than beef!).
