(WWJ) - The result of a week-long survey in January showed an elk population boom in the Lower Peninsula with herd numbers ranging between 870 and 1,684 animals.
Authorities with the Department of Natural Resources spent eight days flying over 1,080 square miles in the northern portions of the Lower Peninsula, counting and photographing elk.
The results showed a 5% increase in the population since 2019.
“The latest estimates suggest that the elk herd remains healthy,” said Chad Stewart, DNR deer, elk and moose management specialist. “We will continue to sustainably manage the herd and habitat across the elk range.”
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Elk is crucial to Michigan’s ecosystems and provides outdoor recreation enthusiasts plenty of opportunities for hunting and wildlife watching.
The DNR said 793 animals in 92 groups were physically observed during the survey; a population estimate model accounted for elk that may not have been seen during the fly-over.
Authorities said they were able to use the photos from the survey to also estimate the sex and age ratio of the herd.
The DNR said the current elk population is on par with the Michigan Elk Management Plan.
The objectives within the plan were last updated in 2012 with decisions and actions mapped out every ten years. Another update is expected to be developed and incorporated this year, which will guide elk management for the next decade.
To learn more, please visit Michigan.gov/Elk.
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