Demographic characteristics of elk in the Glass Mountains, Texas
ABSTRACT Historically distributed throughout North America, most populations of elk (Cervus elaphus) were extirpated by the early 20th century. Merriam elk (C. e. merriami) were once native to Texas, USA, and became extinct after the beginning of the 20th century through excessive hunting and degrad...
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Wiley
2014-09-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.430 |
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| author | Paula Skrobarczyk Pohler Louis A. Harveson Patricia Moody Harveson |
| author_facet | Paula Skrobarczyk Pohler Louis A. Harveson Patricia Moody Harveson |
| author_sort | Paula Skrobarczyk Pohler |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Historically distributed throughout North America, most populations of elk (Cervus elaphus) were extirpated by the early 20th century. Merriam elk (C. e. merriami) were once native to Texas, USA, and became extinct after the beginning of the 20th century through excessive hunting and degradation of habitat. Since then, landowners and state agencies have reintroduced Rocky Mountain elk (C. e. nelsoni) into the Trans‐Pecos region of Texas. We determined herd composition, density, and survival rate of elk in the Glass Mountains, Texas. Twenty‐six total density surveys were conducted in September and October of 2009 and 2010. Survival rate was determined by monitoring radiocollared elk. Collectively, calf:adult female:adult male ratios were found to be at moderate levels of 49:100:39. Our density estimate of 0.39 elk/km2 (95% CI = 0.18–0.78 elk/km2) indicated the population could have stayed the same or possibly doubled in size since 1983 (0.21–0.22 elk/km2; Grace 1983). The elk density in the Glass Mountains was much higher than that estimated for the much larger Trans‐Pecos region, which was 0.14 elk/km2 (95% CI = 0.03–0.33 elk/km2). We estimated annual survival of mature male elk at 97.1% and of female elk at 94.4%, both of which are comparable to other sustainable populations in arid lands. Elk are not subject to a regulated harvest in Texas. Forming a cooperative management program and improved estimates of population dynamics will result in better management recommendations to resource managers. © 2014 The Wildlife Society. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-38ff4c5b033941e2b0fd6d204af04dbc |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2328-5540 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2014-09-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
| spelling | doaj-art-38ff4c5b033941e2b0fd6d204af04dbc2025-08-20T02:49:19ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402014-09-0138346647210.1002/wsb.430Demographic characteristics of elk in the Glass Mountains, TexasPaula Skrobarczyk Pohler0Louis A. Harveson1Patricia Moody Harveson2Department of Natural Resource ManagementSul Ross State UniversityP.O. Box C‐16AlpineTX79832USADepartment of Natural Resource ManagementSul Ross State UniversityP.O. Box C‐16AlpineTX79832USADepartment of Natural Resource ManagementSul Ross State UniversityP.O. Box C‐16AlpineTX79832USAABSTRACT Historically distributed throughout North America, most populations of elk (Cervus elaphus) were extirpated by the early 20th century. Merriam elk (C. e. merriami) were once native to Texas, USA, and became extinct after the beginning of the 20th century through excessive hunting and degradation of habitat. Since then, landowners and state agencies have reintroduced Rocky Mountain elk (C. e. nelsoni) into the Trans‐Pecos region of Texas. We determined herd composition, density, and survival rate of elk in the Glass Mountains, Texas. Twenty‐six total density surveys were conducted in September and October of 2009 and 2010. Survival rate was determined by monitoring radiocollared elk. Collectively, calf:adult female:adult male ratios were found to be at moderate levels of 49:100:39. Our density estimate of 0.39 elk/km2 (95% CI = 0.18–0.78 elk/km2) indicated the population could have stayed the same or possibly doubled in size since 1983 (0.21–0.22 elk/km2; Grace 1983). The elk density in the Glass Mountains was much higher than that estimated for the much larger Trans‐Pecos region, which was 0.14 elk/km2 (95% CI = 0.03–0.33 elk/km2). We estimated annual survival of mature male elk at 97.1% and of female elk at 94.4%, both of which are comparable to other sustainable populations in arid lands. Elk are not subject to a regulated harvest in Texas. Forming a cooperative management program and improved estimates of population dynamics will result in better management recommendations to resource managers. © 2014 The Wildlife Society.https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.430Cervus elaphusdemographicsdensityelkGlass MountainsTexas |
| spellingShingle | Paula Skrobarczyk Pohler Louis A. Harveson Patricia Moody Harveson Demographic characteristics of elk in the Glass Mountains, Texas Wildlife Society Bulletin Cervus elaphus demographics density elk Glass Mountains Texas |
| title | Demographic characteristics of elk in the Glass Mountains, Texas |
| title_full | Demographic characteristics of elk in the Glass Mountains, Texas |
| title_fullStr | Demographic characteristics of elk in the Glass Mountains, Texas |
| title_full_unstemmed | Demographic characteristics of elk in the Glass Mountains, Texas |
| title_short | Demographic characteristics of elk in the Glass Mountains, Texas |
| title_sort | demographic characteristics of elk in the glass mountains texas |
| topic | Cervus elaphus demographics density elk Glass Mountains Texas |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.430 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT paulaskrobarczykpohler demographiccharacteristicsofelkintheglassmountainstexas AT louisaharveson demographiccharacteristicsofelkintheglassmountainstexas AT patriciamoodyharveson demographiccharacteristicsofelkintheglassmountainstexas |