According to WBIR-TV, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s elk herd now exceeds 250, after 25 elk were relocated from Kentucky in 2001 and 27 from Alberta in 2002. Native elk had been absent from the area for more than 150 years after hunters drove them to extinction.
The reintroduction was supported by the National Park Service, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and local businesses. Relocated elk received radio collars and ear tags for research; as the herd grew, experts stopped monitoring every animal, and about 40 to 50 elk now wear collars. Park staff regularly check the herd’s health.
Most elk live in the North Carolina areas of Cataloochee and Oconaluftee. Wildlife biologist Joe Yarkovich, who has coordinated monitoring since 2006, called the program’s 25-year milestone a success and said elk are now part of the Smokies landscape.
