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Low Elk Mortality Expected in Arizona Wildfire

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- With wildfire burning through some of Arizona’s renowned elk country, and with media reporting “devastated” wildlife and habitat, concerned citizens are calling for an emergency feeding program for elk that survive the blaze.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation says elk mortality from wildfire is typically low, making supplemental feeding unnecessary.

“Elk are extremely mobile and adaptable. In a fire event, they simply get out of the way and move to other areas with adequate food, water and cover,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “We’ve seen elk return to burned areas very quickly, sometimes within days. Fire releases nutrients and rejuvenates decadent grasses and forbs. Burns are usually quite fertile and when they begin to green up, elk really prosper.”

When fire burns very hot, such as in overgrown or undermanaged areas of a forest, soils can be damaged. But wildfires typically burn in a mosaic pattern that creates a diversity of habitat favorable to elk and many other species.

Biologists say Arizona’s Wallow Fire is burning in a similar fashion to the massive Rodeo-Chedeski fire of 2002, which brought very little direct mortality to elk. Most that died were at the base of the Mogollon Rim where they became trapped in box canyons. The Wallow Fire started on top of the rim, so biologists speculate that direct mortality to elk may be even less.

Even in the great Yellowstone fires of 1988, fewer than 100 elk died.

Both the Rodeo-Chedeski and Yellowstone fires proved beneficial to elk in following years. Biologists will assess impacts following the Wallow Fire, but at this time there’s no reason to expect a different outcome.

By official policy, RMEF may support feeding of elk only in emergency situations and only when supported by state wildlife agencies.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.9 million acres–a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

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RMEF Honors Oregon Elk Researcher with Murie Award

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- An award honoring the science-based conservation legacy of Olaus J. Murie, the late biologist remembered as the father of modern elk management, has been presented by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to Dr. Michael Wisdom of La Grande, Ore.

The recipient of the 2011 Olaus J. Murie Award is a wildlife researcher at the Pacific Northwest Research Station, Forestry and Range Sciences Laboratory, at La Grande.

An expert in North American ungulate ecology and modeling, wildlife biology, vertebrate species and wildlife-habitat relationships, Wisdom also is a noted leader as these topics relate to disturbance regimes and anthropogenic risk factors.

Wisdom’s contributions to the science of wildlife management are extensive. He has been an author or co-author of 364 invited papers and posters and of 44 offered presentations and posters. Wisdom has 17 formal consultations with scientists both nationally and internationally regarding use of technologies and methods in ungulate research. He also has 118 publications to his credit in scientific journals.

“Everyone who has followed professional elk management since 1986 has heard of the ‘Wisdom Model,’ which was one of the first definitive attempts to predict habitat effectiveness,” said Tom Toman, director of conservation and staff biologist for RMEF.

“Newer modeling efforts are a collaboration of many biologists but Mike remains one of the leaders and the objective has never changed: Develop a tool to measure dietary digestible energy, distance to roads, distance to cover and slope to help direct habitat enhancement and watershed restoration work. Mike remains on the cutting edge of these advanced techniques in elk management.”

Along the way, Wisdom’s efforts also benefit other wildlife species that prosper in early and mid-seral successional habitats.

During his career, Wisdom has been a wildlife assistant at Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation, bird phase research leader, chemical lab technician and fisheries teacher assistant. He served as a wildlife and fisheries biologist and assistant district wildlife biologist for the Bureau of Land Management in Coos Bay, Ore. He also worked as a technology transfer scientist, a regional wildlife ecologist and a terrestrial scientist at the Forest and Range Science Laboratory in La Grande, Ore. Wisdom is now part of the Starkey Ungulate Ecology Team, Ecological Process and Function Program of the USDA Forest Service.

Wisdom’s academic achievements include a B.S. in wildlife management from University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, an M.S. in wildlife science from New Mexico State and Ph.D. in forestry, range and wildlife from the University of Idaho.

The 2011 Olaus J. Murie Award was announced in May at the Western States and Provinces Deer and Elk Workshop in New Mexico. Wisdom was unable to attend, however, so a formal presentation to him will follow later this year.

The award is based on five criteria:

1. Relevance of work to the conservation of wild, free-ranging elk
2. Application of work “on the ground” to benefit wild, free-ranging elk
3. Dedication to his or her profession
4. Commitment to the conservation of wild, free-ranging elk
5. Credibility and respect among peers

Murie was educated at the University of Michigan. He was the first to conduct elk and habitat research at the National Elk Refuge in Jackson Hole, Wyo. His detailed work led to the classic book, The Elk of North America, published in 1951. He promoted sound stewardship and protection of wildlife habitat, receiving numerous honors and awards. Murie died in 1963.

The RMEF award honors Murie’s legacy while recognizing those who have become conservation leaders in their own rite. Past recipients include Jack Ward Thomas, Jim Peek, L. Jack Lyon, Valerius Geist, Robert D. Nelson and John Cook.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.7 million acres, a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

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