ORIGINAL: R.S.B.
I
Anyone that thinks the elk are hurting the deer population is very much mistaken. All of the real facts have indicated that the elk and the habitat work generated as a result of the elk have been a great benefit to the deer. The two species are not in direct competition, as some sadly under informed people seem to think or at least spend a lot of time spouting off about.
R.S. Bodenhorn
And others spend alot of time spouting off about the political side of this subject.
Let me type this again,deer were reduced for overbrowsing on trees such as the oak.And the article stated that elk browse oak.What's to disagree with?
Not all of the areas elk were moved into had habitat improvements.Some of those places have few if any fields so of coarse like the article stated elk will browse the oak maples,etc.The DCNR and a few on here have constantly said the state forest habitat stinks.So why move elk into that area?
There's a place near my cabin that has a very small field where you always see deer.Not enough winter grasses to feed them though so eventually they move on.Now there's a nice size her of elk sharing that field with the deer.And they're not competing for that food?What will they eat next?
Don't get me wrong,I enjoy watching the elk also.I think they are a magnificent animal.But for the DCNR to claim the habitat stinks in places like sproul and then suggest putting elk there with elk veiwing areas is pure politics at it's best.
The only spouting off I see here is somebody playing the political game of the whole issue.