University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln
USGS Staff -- Published Research US Geological Survey
2006
Historical and Current Status of Elk in Kansas
Jonathan M. Conard Kansas State University
Philip S. Gipson Kansas State University
Matt Peek Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks
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Conard, Jonathan M.; Gipson, Philip S.; and Peek, Matt, "Historical and Current Status of Elk in Kansas" (2006). USGS Staff -- Published Research. 194. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usgsstaffpub/194
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the US Geological Survey at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in USGS Staff -- Published Research by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Published in PRAIRIE INVADERS: PROCEEDINGS OF THE 20TH NORTH AMERICAN PRAIRIE CONFERENCE, UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT KEARNEY, July 23–26, 2006, edited by Joseph T. Springer and Elaine C. Springer. Kearney, Nebraska : University of Nebraska at Kearney, 2006. Pages 307-312.
HISTORICAL AND CURRENT STATUS OF ELK IN KANSAS
JONATHAN M. CONARD, Division of Biology, Kansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, U.S. Geological Survey, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA PHILIP S. GIPSON, Division of Biology, Kansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, U.S. Geological Survey, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA MATT PEEK, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Emporia Research and Survey Office, 1830 Merchant Rd., Emporia, KS 66801, USA
Abstract: Elk (Cervus elaphus) historically occurred throughout Kansas but were extirpated from the state around 1890. Free-ranging elk populations were reestablished in Kansas through reintroduction efforts on Cimarron National Grasslands from 1981-1990, and on Fort Riley Military Installation from 1986-1994. Current elk distributions in the state have not been published following these reintroduction efforts. The current and historical distribution of this species in Kansas is described.
Proceedings of the North American Prairie Conference 20:307-312
Key words: Cervus elaphus, Cimarron National Grasslands, distribution, Fort Riley Military Installation, reintroduction
The distribution of elk (Cervus elaphus) in recovered from the village site indicated that cervid Kansas from the post-settlement period until remains were mostly of 2-5 year old individuals extirpation has been described by Hoffmeister and that hunting took place primarily from January (1947) and Choate (1987). However, the current to September (Molloy 1993). Some northern distribution and status of elk in Kansas has not Plains tribes may have hunted elk during the winter been reported following the reintroduction of free- as an important source of meat when bison (Bos ranging elk to the state. Our objectives were to bison) herds were not available (McCabe 2002). provide a summary of historical documentation of Hunting of elk by Native Americans was also elk in Kansas and report on the current distribution documented by Zebulon Pike as he crossed Kansas and status of elk in the state. in 1806 (Jackson 1966). Pike observed members Elk remains dating back to the middle of the Pawnee tribe hunting elk on horseback along Holocene (4000-8000 years before present) have a tributary of the Solomon river in present day been recovered in Kansas, and archaeological Smith County, Kansas (Jackson 1966). Elk were evidence suggests that by the late Holocene elk probably hunted primarily for meat by Native were distributed throughout much of the United American tribes in Kansas, but other documented States including all of Kansas and the Great Plains uses included using bones and antlers for tools, (O’Gara and Dundas 2002). Elk were utilized by hides for clothing and shelter, and upper canines as Native American tribes in Kansas for a variety of decorative ornamentation (McCabe 2002). purposes. Elk bones were present in faunal Hunting of elk by native tribes in the Great Plains remains recovered from village sites along the Big may have been dictated in part by the availability Blue River that were inhabited from approximately of bison. Bison were hunted preferentially when 1757-1825 by members of the Kansa tribe (Molloy available, with elk and other cervids providing an 1993). Cementum annuli analysis of bones important secondary source of meat during times of 308 Status of Elk in Kansas • Conard et al. the year when bison were not readily available distribution and economic importance of elk in the (McCabe 2002). state from 1850-1900. J. R. Mead, an early In addition to faunal remains associated with naturalist and hunter, saw no elk while traveling Native American villages, elk were also through eastern Kansas but noted that his first elk documented by early expeditions passing through sighting occurred in 1859 along the Saline River, the state. One of the earliest expeditions to northwest of present day Salina, Kansas (Mead document the presence of elk in the state was that 1986). According to Mead, the eastern edge of elk of Lewis and Clark. On 5 July 1804, the expedi- distribution in Kansas from 1859-1864 was “a line tion crossed to the Kansas side of the Missouri drawn north and south through El Dorado, Butler River in present day Doniphan County, and journal County. All country west of that in Kansas was entries note that “Elk are plenty about these presumably ranged over by them. . .” (Hoffmeister Praries” along with observations of a “great deel of 1947, p. 75). Mead also hunted elk and bison as Elk Sign” (Moulton and Dunlay 1986, late as 1863 in present day Sedgwick County along pp. 350-351). Similarly, the expedition of Zebulon the Arkansas River (Mead 1986). Mead noted that Pike observed elk while passing through Kansas elk were most abundant in the state north of the during 1806. Pike sighted elk throughout the state Smoky Hill River, and he saw herds of over 1,000 and specifically mentions elk at locations along the individuals crossing the Saline River near present Solomon River in north central Kansas and along day Lincoln, Kansas (Hoffmeister 1947). Elk the Arkansas River in central and southwest Kansas herds of similarly large numbers were reported in (Jackson 1966). Lt. James B. Wilkinson departed the area up to 1866 (Cockrum 1952). As late as the Pike expedition near present day Great Bend 1874, an article published in the Smith County during October 1806 and proceeded downstream Pioneer reported that “herds of elk feed in the along the Arkansas River where he noted that “the sparsely settled portions during the winter herds of buffalo, elk, goat [pronghorn antelope time” (Fleharty 1995, pp. 26-27). Similarly, in (Antilocapra americana)], and deer, surpassed 1875 the Ellsworth Reporter published a note credibility.” (Barry 1972, p. 57). The Pike indicating that “Antelope and Elk range over the expedition hunted elk for meat throughout Kansas hills in large numbers” (Fleharty 1995, p. 34). The and Lt. Wilkinson used elk hides for canoes drainages of the Smoky Hill, Solomon, and Saline (Jackson 1966). rivers may indeed have been one of the last Written accounts compiled from other strongholds of elk in Kansas. Elk persisted in this expeditions in the Great Plains during the time region as long as any area of the state, with settlers period of 1806-1857 indicated that elk were reporting elk to be present in Ellsworth County as originally sighted most frequently in tallgrass late as 1890 (Choate 1987). prairie, but were not documented in this biome In 1875, Knox compiled a list of mammals in later than 1832 (Shaw and Lee 1997). Elk were Kansas and reported that elk were “Quite common seen by expeditions in mixed grass prairie regions in the west parts of the state” (Knox 1875, p. 20). through 1857, although they may have been However, it is important to note that declines in elk sighted less frequently than sightings reported populations had probably already begun even in earlier from tallgrass prairie regions (Shaw and Lee western Kansas during this time period. Settlers 1997). It appears that elk populations in Kansas arriving in western counties during the 1800s often were first extirpated from the eastern part of the reported that elk were already extirpated in these state. This pattern of extirpation may have been areas although bones were frequently encountered caused by increased hunting pressure and habitat on the prairie (Choate 1987). Settlers in western modification in this area of the state due to higher Kansas last reported elk to be present in the state in human population densities present in eastern 1890 (Choate 1987). Presumably, elk were indeed Kansas during the early 1800s. absent from the state after this time, and by 1905 In addition to expeditions passing through the reports were first published that formally indicated state, records from settlers, hunters, and newspaper that the species had been extirpated from the state accounts provide additional evidence of the (Cockrum 1952). Status of Elk in Kansas • Conard et al. 309
The economic importance of elk to early A second free-ranging herd was established in Kansans included market and some subsistence 1986 on Fort Riley Military Installation in Geary hunting (Mead 1986). Elk were prized by market and Riley counties in northeastern Kansas. Fort and sport hunters for the value of their meat, hide, Riley is an approximately 101,000-ac (40,900-ha) and even antlers (Mead 1986). Early settlers may property managed by the U.S. Army, and training have occasionally harvested elk for subsistence, but areas are characterized by tallgrass prairie it is likely that small game was utilized more vegetation with some riparian woodland areas. Elk frequently than larger species such as elk or bison were initially reintroduced to this area with the (Fleharty 1995). Following the decline of big release of 12 animals from Maxwell Wildlife game populations in the state, the selling of elk Refuge (Pitts et al. 1987). Additional elk were bones recovered along with bison bones on the introduced to Fort Riley from Maxwell Wildlife prairies provided a source of income for some early Refuge in 1987 (n = 7), 1990 (n = 2), and 1992 Kansans (Fleharty 1995). (n = 2). Further translocations were made from Following extirpation around 1890, free- source herds in Trinidad, Colorado (1988, n = 5), ranging elk were absent from the state for over 90 Moise, Montana (1990, n = 8), and Wind Cave years. A small captive herd was reintroduced to National Park, South Dakota (1994, n = 18) for a state lands on the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge in total of 54 elk released. Like the Cimarron herd, central Kansas in 1951 from the Wichita Mountains this herd was lightly hunted initially (harvest of National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma. This captive < 10 elk/year), but was significantly reduced (by herd served as a source for subsequent 100 elk) over a 2-year period (1999-2000) as a reintroductions to other areas of the state. result of crop damage complaints on neighboring In 1981, the Kansas Department of Wildlife private lands. Today the herd numbers approx- and Parks reintroduced 12 elk from Maxwell imately 120 animals and supports an annual harvest Wildlife Refuge to the Cimarron National of 10-15 elk (Matt Peek, Kansas Department of Grassland in Morton County in southwestern Wildlife and Parks, unpublished data). Kansas. The Cimarron National Grassland is a The Fort Riley and Cimarron herds are the only 108,000-ac (43,725-ha) property managed by the free-ranging populations established through U. S. Forest Service, and is characterized by reintroduction efforts in the state. However, shortgrass prairie vegetation with cottonwood sightings compiled by Kansas Department of (Populus deltoides) and saltcedar (Tamarix Wildlife and Parks, Fort Riley Conservation ramosissima) found along the Cimarron River. Division, and the Kansas Cooperative Fish and (Plant names are consistent with the USDA Wildlife Research Unit indicate that individuals PLANTS database (NRCS 2007)). Subsequent and even small herds of elk are occasionally reintroductions to the Cimarron herd from various present in various additional areas of the state. source herds (indicated in parentheses) took place Data on elk sightings received by Kansas in 1982 (Maxwell Wildlife Refuge, n = 6), 1984 Department of Wildlife and Parks were compiled (Oregon, n = 2), 1988 (Trinidad, Colorado, n = 3), beginning in 2000. These sighting reports were not and 1990 (Moise, Montana, n = 10). Elk from this actively solicited, but consist of information herd use areas outside of the national grassland voluntarily reported to Kansas Department of boundaries, including parts of northwestern Wildlife and Parks by employees and the public. Oklahoma and southeastern Colorado (Bian and The location of each sighting was recorded by West 1997). This herd increased to about 120 elk county (and more precise geographic location if in the mid 1990s (West 1995) under light hunting known) and the number of elk seen was also pressure (harvest of < 10 elk/year), but was signifi- recorded. Since many of the sightings may have cantly reduced in 1994 and 1995 (total harvest of consisted of transient or dispersing elk, it is 80-85 animals in all 3 states) in response to crop possible that there may be multiple sighting reports damage complaints. Today the herd numbers recorded for the same elk (or group of elk) at around 50 elk and is not hunted in Kansas. different geographic locations. Based on these xxxx 310 Status of Elk in Kansas • Conard et al.
Fig. 1. Locations of reintroduced elk populations in Kansas and locations of elk sightings reported between 2000-2006. records, counties with elk sightings distinct from dispersing elk is from the Fort Riley herd, where the Fort Riley and Cimarron herds were mapped collars have been placed on elk as part of an based on reports from 2000-2006. Elk known to ongoing research project. Future research using have escaped from private game farms were genetic analysis is needed to conclusively assign excluded from our analysis. However, there are 82 elk found outside of established populations to a registered captive facilities with elk in the state and known source herd thereby determining dispersal there have been several cases of known captive rates and patterns. escapes or releases since 2004 (Chastity Flowers, The documentation of elk throughout Kansas Kansas Animal Health Department, personal suggests the potential for colonization by communication), so it is possible that some of the dispersing elk throughout much of the state. remaining sightings represent escaped or released However, complaints have arisen in the past when captive animals. elk populations have increased beyond landowner Elk were sighted in 25 counties not including tolerance levels. In response to these concerns, counties with reintroduced populations (Fig. 1). Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Most sightings consisted of individuals or pairs of established regulations in 2006 authorizing hunt- elk usually believed to be transient. However, a own-land antlerless elk permits statewide except herd of about 30 elk has become established in for Morton County. These regulations were an Hamilton County, and a few elk have been seen attempt to allow landowners to limit or maintain multiple times in other areas of the state suggesting elk herd sizes at acceptable levels. By allowing the presence of resident (non-transient) animals. landowners the opportunity to maintain elk at Cows with calves have also been observed on acceptable levels while at the same time being several occasions outside of areas where elk herds allowed the benefits associated with elk hunting, it are considered established. is possible that small free-ranging herds of elk Elk have been known to disperse great could be successfully maintained on additional distances and may rapidly colonize areas once areas of private land throughout the state. established (McCorquodale et al. 1988, Petersburg Knowledge of the distribution of elk populations et al. 2000). There is evidence to suggest that and sightings in Kansas is valuable in predicting dispersal is occurring from established populations the potential for natural reestablishment by elk into in Kansas as collared elk have been sighted other areas of the state, and will help to more independently in Morris and Pottawatomie quickly identify areas where elk have become counties. The most likely source for these established. Status of Elk in Kansas • Conard et al. 311
elk population. Journal of Wildlife Manage- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ment 52:309-313. We thank the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Mead, J. R. 1986. Hunting and trading on the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Fort Great Plains, 1859-1875. S. Jones, editor. Riley Conservation Division, and the US Army University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, Construction Engineering Research Laboratory for Oklahoma, USA. their support of elk research in Kansas. Molloy, P. 1993. Hunting practices at an historic Plains Indian village: Kansa ethnoarchaeology LITERATURE CITED and faunal analysis. Plains Anthropologist Barry, L. 1972. The beginning of the west. Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka, Kansas, USA. 38:187-197. Bian, L., and E. West. 1997. GIS modeling of elk Moulton, G. E., and T. E. Dunlay, editors. 1986. calving habitat in a prairie environment with The journals of the Lewis and Clark expedition. statistics. Photogrammetric Engineering and Volume 2. University of Nebraska Press, Remote Sensing 63:161-167. Lincoln, Nebraska, USA. Choate, J. R. 1987. Post-settlement history of NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service). mammals in western Kansas. Southwestern 2007. PLANTS database. U. S. Department of Naturalist 32:157-168. Agriculture.
APPENDIX: Illustrations
Appendix Fig. 1. Cow and calves at Fort Riley Military Reservation, Kansas. Photo by Nichole Lambrecht.
Appendix Fig. 2. Dispersing bull elk photographed with trail camera near Nemaha/Marshall county line.