A marked rise in elk population levels in parts of Mountain View County, and particularly in areas just east of the Red Deer River, needs to be addressed, say area farmers.
During an open house held at the Sundre West Country Centre, farmers and ranchers from the Sundre and Bergen areas voiced concerns that the elk are causing extensive damage to crops and to fields.
Jim Bowhay, a member of the Sundre and District Agricultural Society and a Bergen-area rancher, says elk in ever greater numbers are moving out of the West Country and settling in on area farm property.
During the West Country open house, he said the elk herds moving through local fields are like a “rototiller tearing things up.”
“A herd of them go across a field and it's black when they are done,” said Bowhay. “We've had two or three pretty easy winters prior to that (2013-14) so naturally the population goes up.”
In an effort to address the elk problem, a group of area farmers now plans to get together to find possible solutions, he said.
“As soon as we get seeding done, we are going to get a crew together,” he said. “We've got to come up with a solution. I think we've got quite a few guys who have enough creativity to come up with solutions. It's obvious that we are going to have to take a run at it ourselves.
“Something needs to be done and we need some sort of buy-in. The ag society will definitely be pushing.”
Asked if the elk problems are being seen only in the spring, he said, “They are here all year. They are living full time. They are full-time residents.”
With more and more elk moving into the area, there is a real possibility that predators such as wolves and bears will also start to move into the region in ever greater numbers, he said.
“There are some wolves around but that isn't an issue yet,” he said. “But that will come. As the elk move here, they will come. It's not if, but when.”
During the recent open house, Gordy Cunningham, a member of the Mountain View County agricultural services board, said a group of concerned farmers should consider coming together to seek out solutions to the elk population concerns.
