Elk Team at Work

Two members of the Clam Lake elk herd. DNR photo.

An effort led by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and many partners to bring additional elk to Wisconsin from Kentucky has moved into the capture phase of the project, and crews are having success. A small DNR capture team is currently in the eastern coal fields region of Kentucky working cooperatively with Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife staff. The overall goal is to capture as many as 50 elk this winter for reintroduction to Wisconsin this spring.

The Kentucky-Wisconsin capture team has captured approximately half of this year’s 50-elk goal. All captured elk are currently in a health-testing and quarantine pen to receive daily care and monitoring for potential health issues. This is a multi-year effort with an overall goal of bringing up to 150 elk from Kentucky to start a new elk herd in the Black River State Forest area of Jackson County, and supplement the current elk herd near Clam Lake.