Elk herd in Smokies grows from 25 to 250 in 25 years

…Kim DeLozier, a retired Great Smoky Mountains National Park ranger who led the elk reintroduction effort 25 years ago, recalled that disease and parasites were among the biggest concerns surrounding the project. “ One of the biggest concerns from the farming community, for the state veterinarians, was disease and parasites ,” DeLozier said. He explained that officials needed to identify a suitable herd that had been monitored and surveyed for several years before they could demonstrate that bringing the animals into the Smokies…

…said elk could eventually reach areas farther from their established territory. Two female elk were recently photographed near Townsend, Tennessee, roughly 30 miles from the herd's primary range in Cataloochee Valley. “ Yeah, they could make it to Cades Cove, absolutely ,” Yarkovich said. He expects such movements could become more common as the population grows. “As the herd continues to grow, I think we’re probably going to see more and more animals making far-out pioneering…

…and CEO of Friends of the Smokies, worked for the National Park Service for nearly three decades and was present 25 years ago when the elk were released. She took her young sons to witness the historic event. “ The return of the elk is one of the most remarkable conservation success stories in the East, and certainly one of the most rewarding of my career ,” Soehn said. The success has also produced unexpected movements beyond the herd's traditional range. Joe Yarkovich, who was an intern at Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2001 and is now involved with the elk…