Background
Currently, Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado and Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota are facing habitat degradation due to overpopulation of elk. The Park Service is exploring options, including hiring professional marksmen, to reduce the herds.
The North American Wildlife Conservation Model has been effective in managing many wildlife populations. Any decision to undertake wildlife management activities within a national park should be made after consultation with the appropriate State and Federal agencies, and with opportunity for public input. State and Federal agencies should work to ensure controlled management activities, such as an elk reduction program, to protect other resources within the park. The agencies should conduct environmental and biological assessments.
If hunts adjacent to a National Park and relocation of elk (or other game animals) from within the park cannot achieve its management goals, the Elk Foundation recognizes that a reduction program may be necessary. The Elk Foundation encourages the participation of citizen hunters in game animal reduction programs within national parks.
Position
RMEF believes that, when a biological assessment indicates the carrying capacities of a National Park are being exceeded and habitat degradation is taking place, control of populations is appropriate. RMEF subscribes to the North American Wildlife Conservation Model, which has proven effective in the management of elk and other game animal populations. When environmental and biological assessments indicate that an elk or other game animal reduction program is necessary, and if hunting on lands adjacent to the park or relocation efforts does not alleviate the problem, RMEF strongly suggests that the National Park Service consider allowing citizen hunters to participate in the reduction program. This can and should be done in partnership with state wildlife agencies. Appropriate training and education programs can be established in partnership with state agencies and non-governmental organizations.