Love to hear about reintroduced Elk in Wisconsin, a state that has a Wolf population as well..........Restoring the historical predator/prey matrix across North America is always fun to hear about ........In Kentucky where a reintroduced Elk herd is thriving, there are no Wolves and Pumas, with adverse long term biological imbalances sure to impact the woods and meadows there..........Would love to see Elk back across the Midwest and Eastern states with a simultaneous infusion of the historical carnivore matrix of Wolves, Bears and Pumas right there besides them, all interacting in the "dance of life"

https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/3824135-second-wisconsin-elk-herd-now-roaming-free&ct=ga&cd=CAEYACoTNTk5NDkwOTgzNjQzNjI4OTY4ODIaZDU2MjY2MGY2ZDYzYjlmMTpjb206ZW46VVM&usg=AFQjCNEfbooO5di1XrTdliJIjgbdhfZBxQ

Second Wisconsin elk herd now roaming free

By John Myers on Aug 24, 2015 at 2:58 p.m.

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Another 23 elk are roaming through the woods of Wisconsin after pen gates were opened for another transplanted herd of the big animals, the Department of Natural Resources reported Monday.

The state's second elk herd, including 19 adults that came from Kentucky and four calves born in Wisconsin, are expected to move throughout the Black River State Forest in the central part of the state.

More infusions of Kentucky elk are planned in coming years. with officials hoping the herd grows to about 390 animals.

The state's first re-established herd, transplanted from Michigan in May 1995, continues to roam in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in southern Ashland County. That herd has now grown to about 160 elk in the Clam Lake area and is expected to get an infusion of new blood next year when another 75 or so will be brought in from Arkansas to mingle with the existing Clam Lake herd.

The long-term goal is about 1,400 elk in the Clam Lake area.

The new Jackson County elk have been equipped with GPS tracking collars so DNR wildlife staff can monitor how they establish their annual life patterns here in their new home.

"We have reached another milestone in our efforts to reintroduce elk to Wisconsin," Gov. Scott Walker said in a statement. "The release of these elk marks a successful first year of a multi-year effort to establish a new elk herd in Jackson County and the Clam Lake area. A healthy and thriving herd will not only enhance our wildlife resources, positively impact tourism, and ultimately grow our economy. "

The elk were trapped in southeast Kentucky last winter and tested for disease before being transported to Wisconsin in March. Upon arrival in Jackson County, the elk were held in a secure facility to complete a second round of health testing and become acclimated to the area.

The Clam Lake herd has been growing much slower than expected, with genetics, habitat and wolves taking their toll.

Officials are hoping that the Clam Lake herd spreads out more so the elk are less vulnerable to wolves, but there are no plans for the two Wisconsin herds to overlap.

Of the Clam Lake elk that have died and been found by elk biologists over the past 20 years, 42 percent have been killed by wolves; 16 percent from vehicle collisions and 12 percent from bear attacks, mostly on calves 6 weeks old and younger.

Elk were native to much of Wisconsin but were extirpated by the late 1800s