The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation embarked on a very high profile project to reintroduce elk to the Cataloochee Valley area of The great Smoky Mountains National Park over 10 years ago. After years of studies, the first elk were transported to the park in February of 2000. In April of 2000 they were released into the wild.

When the first elk were released into Cataloochee Valley in 2001, the project was considered an experiment that would last 5 years, during which time researchers would gather and analyze the data necessary to make long-term projections about the herd’s success or failure in the Smoky Mountains. When the data was analyzed at the end of those 5 years there was an incredible amount of information that was learned about the herd, including home ranges, dietary composition, survival and reproductive rates, what impacts they were having on Park resources, and much more.

However, since the Park only received 2 groups of elk to release rather than the recommended 3 groups, the herd remained small and showed slow growth over those years. This also meant that the data analysis was very susceptible to slight changes in the herd. One way to increase the confidence and accuracy of the analysis was to extend the experimental phase an additional 3 years. This allowed for continued monitoring and research, with a new analysis of the herd’s long-term viability at the end of that experimental extension phase, which took place during 2009. This analysis showed a favorable projection for the elk herd’s potential future growth in and around the Park.

With all of the previous research and management activities in mind, the Park is shifting its focus on the herd from an experimental phase to a long-term management strategy. As part of this planning, the Park has prepared a new Environmental Assessment and Management Plan that outlines the elk project, as well as presents several alternatives for future elk management. One alternative is to continue the intensive research and monitoring that has taken place since the beginning of the project. The second, and the park’s preferred alternative of Adaptive Management, allows for a more selective and adaptive research and management approach that will be less invasive for the herd along with allowing Park staff to better address possible impacts in the future.