State of California Natural Resources Agency DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE DRAFT ELK CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN November 2017 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY California supports three of the four remaining North American elk (Cervus canadensis) subspecies. Prior to European arrival and settlement, it is estimated that more than 500,000 elk inhabited parts of the San Joaquin Valley and the Coast Range, and central, northern and northeastern parts of the state into Oregon. During this time, indigenous people managed and utilized elk for food and other purposes. Non- indigenous settlement decimated California’s elk populations, especially tule elk (C. c. nannodes) which only inhabited California. By 1872, only a few tule elk remained in the San Joaquin Valley. Protective conservation measures, successful translocation efforts and natural dispersal of elk into suitable habitat have allowed for recovery in portions of their historical range and allowed expansion into areas previously unoccupied (e.g. Owens Valley). Elk population growth since 1970 has been significant; California now supports approximately 5,700 Roosevelt elk (C. c. roosevelti), 1,500 Rocky Mountain elk (C. c. nelsoni) and 5,700 tule elk. While elk population growth and range expansion may continue in the near future, California most likely will never again support 500,000 elk because of residential and agricultural development and its business and transportation infrastructure. Conflicts between expanding elk and human populations are significant at some locales. Of particular importance are private property conflicts and public health or safety incidents. Section (§) 3952 of the Fish and Game Code (FGC) was adopted in 2003 against the backdrop of increasing conflicts between elk and human populations, and requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife (Department) to develop a statewide elk management plan that is consistent with California’s wildlife policy. The Department has jurisdiction over the conservation, protection, and management of elk and the habitat necessary to sustain them, FGC §1802. California’s wildlife policy emphases three general goals: to maintain sufficient wildlife resources for their intrinsic values, to provide for diverse public uses and economic contribution to citizens, and to alleviate economic losses and public health/safety problems (FGC §1801). Based on FGC §3952, the statewide elk management plan must emphasize enhancing and maintaining sufficient populations of all three subspecies of elk in perpetuity, with specific consideration of the following: Characteristics and geographic range of each elk subspecies within the state, including Roosevelt elk, Rocky Mountain elk, and tule elk; Habitat conditions and trends within the state; Major factors affecting elk within the state, including, but not limited to, conflicts with other land uses; Management activities necessary to achieve the goals of the plan and to alleviate property damage; Identification of high priority areas for elk management; Methods for determining population viability and the minimum population level needed to sustain local herds; and i Description of the necessary contents for individual herd management plans prepared for high priority areas. The Department is also committed to establishing a positive, cooperative relationship with California federally recognized Tribes (Tribes) regarding elk management in recognition that the Department and Tribes share authority to regulate the take of elk as they move across the landscape. In order to achieve the goals regarding California’s elk populations, innovative management actions and collaboration will be required, and guidance from a statewide elk management plan is necessary to help mediate competing and conflicting interests. This elk management plan is designed to address these goals and objectives and assure the maintenance, restoration, and enhancement of California elk populations and habitat. Based on this framework and the requirements in FGC §3952, a nine person working group reviewed elk management plans from other states and Canadian provinces and provided initial recommendations to develop California’s plan. The working group consisted of three members from the Department, two representatives from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and one each from the United States Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, California Cattlemen’s Association, and California Farm Bureau Federation. Whereas the working group provided initial recommendations, preparation of the management plan was the responsibility of the Department as the managing steward of California’s wildlife resources. Beginning in 2016 the Department began working with Tribes for input to address Tribal concerns. The statewide elk management plan describes historical and current geographic range, habitat conditions and trends, and major factors affecting Roosevelt, Rocky Mountain, and tule elk in California. It identifies, delimits and describes high priority areas for elk management, referred to as Elk Management Units (EMUs). The 22 EMUs collectively comprise the current known distribution of elk in California with a few exceptions. Documents specific to each EMU (see Appendix E) contain information for high priority areas under the following headings: Description of EMU, Elk Distribution and Abundance, Management Goals, Objectives and Actions, Herd Viability, Summary of Annual Harvests, and Unit Highlights. The working group’s recommendations and the Department’s experience with other species management plans inform the contents of the EMU documents. The statewide elk management plan considers methods of determining elk population viability. Management activities to achieve plan goals generally emphasize maintaining and improving habitat conditions on public and private land. EMU documents identify specific management objectives and actions, along with who is responsible for those objectives and actions. Where it is (or may become) necessary to alleviate property damage and public health/safety problems within an EMU, regulated hunting is the recommended primary method of population control, followed by capture/translocation of surplus animals when regulated hunting is unfeasible or ineffective. The Department recognizes the need to develop and maintain effective tribal/state governmental relations and to manage elk as a shared resource. The conservation, ii management, protection, enhancement, and reestablishment of wildlife resources and habitat are critical to providing cultural, scientific, educational, recreational, aesthetic, and economic benefits for present and future generations of all Californians. This management plan provides guidance and direction to help set priorities for elk management statewide. Whereas the management plan establishes general policies, goals and priorities on a statewide basis, individual EMU documents address issues specific to the unit and establish population objectives and future management direction. Although the Department has statutory authority and primary responsibility for wildlife management in California, partnerships with other organizations and agencies have assisted with elk management in the past and will be increasingly important in the future. This plan emphasizes that sharing of resources and collaboration with all parties interested in elk and elk management will be essential to managing California’s elk populations in the future. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................. i TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................. iv LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................... vi LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................... vii I. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 1 A. Goals and Objectives .............................................................................................. 4 B. Taxonomy and Historical Distribution ...................................................................... 5 C. Life History and Habitat ........................................................................................... 8 D. Distribution and Population Status ........................................................................ 14 E. Historical and Ongoing Management Efforts by the Department and California Tribes......................................................................................................................... 23 II. CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT .................................................................. 25 A. Adaptive Management .......................................................................................... 25 B. Population Monitoring ............................................................................................ 25 C. Herd Viability and Genetic Diversity ...................................................................... 27 D. Disease Surveillance............................................................................................. 31 E. Co-Management with California Federally Recognized Tribes & Tribal Traditional Uses and Knowledge ................................................................................................. 33