The Associated Press reports that Rocky Mountain National Park officials have proposed shooting hundreds of elk to reduce what biologists say has become an unmanageable population.
A draft elk management plan released Monday includes a recommendation to shoot 200 to 700 elk in the first four years - and then 25 to 150 annually for 16 years. The goal is to reduce the number of elk from about 4,000 to between 1,200 and 1,700.
Biologists say elk have overgrazed the park so badly that other animals and plants have been hurt by loss of habitat and food. Park spokeswoman Kyle Patterson said the recommended option includes eventually using wolves to rein in elk.
(Posted by Dena, for Deb and Dave)
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