Tule elk monitoring and management at Point Reyes National Seashore: 2015–2016 report

Bernot, Tim; Press, David

Native tule elk (Cervus elaphus nannodes) at Point Reyes National Seashore occur in three separate herds at Tomales Point, Drakes Beach, and in the Estero Road/Limantour area. During 2015 and 2016, elk numbers at Tomales Point remained stable, but well below past counts, at 283 and 290 total elk, respectively. Numbers of elk at Tomales Point declined dramatically during drought conditions in 2013 and 2014 and did not recover in 2015 and 2016. Concurrently, elk numbers in the Drakes Beach and the Estero Road/Limantour herds increased from 2015 to 2016, but overall numbers were reduced by the collection of several elk from each herd to test for the presence of Johne’s disease. Johne’s disease was confirmed in the Drakes Beach herd for the first time. Through visual observations and the deployment of GPS collars, park staff monitored the presence of tule elk on park ranches. In the Drakes Beach area, a maximum of 75.2% of elk locations per year were recorded on park ranches. In the Estero Road area, where only male elk occur, up to 93.2% of elk locations per year were recorded on park ranches. In order to test translocation as a potential future management method, three elk were experimentally re-located from Drakes Beach to Limantour in March 2015 and their movements monitored. All three elk returned to the Drakes Beach herd. Additional tule elk monitoring and management actions implemented by Point Reyes staff in 2015 and 2016 included attempted captures of male elk with antler entanglements, continued water supplementation at Drakes Beach, hazing of elk from park ranches, elk fence maintenance at Tomales Point, cattle fence repair and removal, shed antler collection, development of a water supplementation plan at Tomales Point, and investigation of notable mortalities. The tule elk docent program at Tomales Point was active again in 2015 and 2016, reaching over 6,000 visitors annually. Tule education and outreach at the park also included class field trips from local universities and public presentations at park headquarters as well as a presentation at a scientific conference.

Tule elk monitoring and management at Point Reyes National Seashore: 2015–2016 report

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