2005/06 has been an excellent year for elk in the Bancroft ...



2013 BANCROFT/NORTH HASTINGS

ELK RESEARCH AND MONITORING UPDATE

April 8, 2013

Dr. Rick Rosatte, MNR, Wildlife Research & Development Section (WRDS), Trent University, DNA Building, Peterborough, Ontario, phone 705-755-2280, e-mail rick.rosatte@ontario.ca

To determine the estimated size of the elk population in the Bancroft/North Hastings core elk range (a 2,500 km2 area), an aerial survey was conducted on January 23, 2013, using an EC 130 helicopter. The crew included pilot Dan Kennedy (MNR Aviation Services), Rick Rosatte and Mike Allan (MNR Wildlife Research and Development Section), Trevor Harris and Katrina Demers (Bancroft District MNR). The temperature was -34C, there was ample snow cover on the ground, and the skies were clear and sunny for the majority of the 2 flights (2 – 2.5 hr flights). A total of 174 different elk were observed. That included 104 cows, 26 bulls (12 mature), and 44 calves. Of those elk, 35 were observed to have radio collars. Using a mark-resight model (Ecological Methodology software), the estimated number of elk in the survey area at that time was 499.6 (394.2-633.3) (95% Confidence Interval). It should be noted that the number of elk could decrease depending on winter severity. This is also a pre-calving population estimate (calves are born in late May/early June).

Forty-two percent (44/104) of the cows were accompanied by calves born during the previous year. The bull to cow ratio acquired from the survey data was 25:100. However, 14 of the 26 bulls that were observed were yearlings (spike horns). Using only mature bulls, the bull to cow ratio drops to 11.5:100. This low mature bull to cow ratio is of concern as a ratio of 20:100 (mature bulls to mature cows) is ideal to maintain maximum productivity. However, it must be remembered that bull elk tend to congregate in small bull groups during the winter and are very difficult to locate during surveys unless they are collared.

The January 2013 elk population estimate (mean=499.6) is significantly higher (34%) than the January 2012 estimate (mean = 374 elk) (but similar to the 2011 estimate). This difference between the 2012 and 2013 estimates may be real or it may be due to violation of the population estimator assumptions such as closed populations, no immigration/emigration of elk etc. We realize population estimator models are not perfect, but currently, they are the most reliable methods available to us to estimate elk population size. Using the best science we have, our best estimate is that there are approximately (round numbers) 400 to 600 elk within the Bancroft core elk zone. This is within the MNR’s elk population objective for the Bancroft core elk area.

Figure 1. Rick Rosatte and Mike Alan with the EC 130 MNR helicopter ready to begin the elk survey with perfect conditions on January 23, 2013. The pilot was Dan Kennedy.

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Within the Bancroft core elk area there are several social groups of elk. The Lingham Lake/Queensboro elk group is doing well with 52 elk (33 cows, 6 bulls, 13 calves) being observed during the January 2013 survey (Figure 2). This is a numerical decrease over the number (65) of elk observed during the 2012 survey. However, during the 2013 survey, the largest group size ever recorded in Lingham (49 elk) was observed west of Deer Rock Lake and another social group of elk south of Mt Moriah was not located due to telemetry problems (those elk were located on the GPS collar website so we knew they were there at the time we were flying but could not locate them as no VHF signals were located).

Figure 2. Part of the Lingham elk social group (49 elk) that were located west of Deer Rock Lake on January 23, 2013. Photo by Rick Rosatte.

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A cow elk group that has been previously located south of Kaladar may have joined one of the Lingham groups (i.e. the one located west of Deer Rock Lake) as the Kaladar cow group was not located (there are no collars on those elk). We did, however, find 2 mature bulls south of Kaladar where the cow group traditionally winters.

The number of elk observed (43 – 28 cows, 5 bulls, 10 calves) in the Turiff elk social group was numerically higher during January 2013 compared to the 2012 survey (19 elk) (Figure 3). However, part of the Mephisto group may have joined the Turriff elk group as the Mephisto/Limerick Lake elk group decreased in size with respect to animals observed during 2013 {13 elk (9 cows, 3 bulls, 1 calf observed during 2013) vs 19 in 2012}.

Figure 3. Part of the Turriff elk social group as observed from the helicopter on January 23, 2013. Photo by Rick Rosatte.

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The New Carlow/Boulter area elk group remains fairly stable with 17 elk (9 cows, 1 bull, 7 calves) being located during the January 2013 survey. There were 17 and 23 elk observed during 2 surveys in 2012. The 2013 numbers are down substantially from the number of elk observed in the area during 2011 (30 elk). However, this is expected as the area is being managed to diminish elk/human conflicts on agricultural lands via a harvest and when necessary issuance of agricultural authorizations.

The Hartsmere elk group appeared to be decreasing with 41 elk (23 cows, 8 bulls, 10 calves) being observed during January 2013 (Figure 4). During the two 2012 surveys, 47 and 44 elk were detected with 53 elk being observed in 2011. However, the group may have splintered as winter feeding by residents is common in that area. In addition, 6 elk (2 cows, 1 bull, 3 calves) were located just north of Hartsmere near Little Ireland during the 2013 survey (4 elk were located in this area during the 2012 survey).

Figure 4. Part of the Hartsmere elk social group located on January 23, 2013. Photo by Rick Rosatte.

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No elk were observed in the Madoc area during the 2013 survey; however, residents have noted a few elk in the area during 2012, primarily in the agricultural area north of Hwy 7 and east of Hwy 62. None of those animals are collared which makes them extremely difficult to locate.

It should be noted that an increase or decrease in the number of elk observed annually does not necessarily equate to a population increase or decrease as the key determining factor in the population estimator model is the number of collared animals observed during the survey.

During 2012, elk were reported in many areas outside of the Bancroft area core elk zone from the Ottawa valley to Kingston to Bobcaygeon. These areas were not flown during the survey. In addition, there are no functioning radio-collars in these areas and the elk would have been very difficult to locate.

A total of 23 elk (10 bulls, 13 cows) were harvested during the September, 2012 Ontario elk hunt (OMNR 2013) which is restricted to the greater Bancroft area. Aboriginal harvest included 10 elk (5 bulls 5 cows). The total harvest (including aboriginal) represented about 7 percent of the January 2013 elk population estimate. It appears that this level of harvest has not had a negative impact on elk population size in the core elk area. More importantly, the number of elk in the core area remains within MNR’s population objective of 400 to 600 elk. If needed, the harvest can be used as a management tool to modify elk population numbers (by modifying the number of tags allocated/year) to bring them within the population objective.

Generally, bull:cow elk ratios reported in the literature refer to mature bulls to mature cow ratios. Mature bulls are generally those that are 3 years of age or older (Raedeke et al. 2002; Stalling et al., 2002). Ideally, mature bull to cow ratios should be at least 20:100 to maximize productivity as mature bulls do the majority of breeding (Raedeke et al. 2002). It must be noted that of the 21 bull elk harvested during the Bancroft area September 2011/12 hunts, 18 were mature bulls (>5x5 rack). In addition, only 12 of 26 bull elk (mature bull to cow ratio of 12:100) observed during the January 2013 elk survey were mature. Overharvest of mature bulls has been documented on numerous occasions in the western U.S. as resulting in elk population declines due to too few mature bulls involved in breeding (McCorquodale et al. 2011; Raedeke et al. 2002; Stalling et al. 2002). To resolve this situation, a spike only bull hunt was initiated in Washington. Should low mature bull ratios become an issue in the Bancroft area in the future, consistent with the Elk Harvest Management Guidelines, consideration may be given to introducing a selective harvest of bulls (i.e. age-based via antler class restrictions) in order to balance the harvest of mature versus immature animals.

Mike Allan is in the process of completing his MSc at Trent University. The focus of his study is on elk calving sites in the greater Bancroft area. A summary of that research will appear in the 2013/14 annual elk report.

Thanks to the many people and organizations who assisted with the program over the years, either financially or in the field. They include: the Quinte Elk Restoration Committee; Safari Club International (Ottawa and Ontario chapters); the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, MNR Aviation Services; MNR Wildlife Research and Development Section (Dr. J. Chris Davies, manager), MNR Bancroft District (Vince Ewing, manager) and MNR Peterborough District (Karen Bellamy, manager). Special thanks to Mike Allan of the MNR Wildlife Research & Development Section for his assistance with the 2012/13 elk research program. The Bancroft update was reviewed by staff from MNR Bancroft District, Wildlife Research and Development, and Wildlife Sections.

Literature cited

McCorquodale, S., P. Wik, and P. Fowler. 2011. Elk survival and mortality causes in the

Blue Mountains of Washington. Journal of Wildlife Management 75:897-904.

OMNR. 2013. Elk hunt statistics and summary. January 17, 2013. Ontario Ministry of

Natural Resources unpublished report, Bancroft, Ontario, 5pp.

Raedeke, K., J. Millspaugh, and P. Clarke. 2002. Population characteristics. PP 449-491.

In North American elk, ecology and management, D. Toweill and J. Ward-

Thomas eds., Smithsonian Institute Press, Washington.

Stalling, D., G. Wolfe, and D. Crockett. 2002. Regulating the hunt. PP 749-791. In North

American elk, ecology and management, D. Toweill and J. Ward- Thomas eds.,

Smithsonian Institute Press, Washington.

Copies of the 2013 annual elk report can be obtained from:

Rick Rosatte, Ph.D

Senior Research Scientist

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources

Wildlife Research & Development Section

Trent University, DNA Building

2140 East Bank Drive

Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, K9J 7B8

Phone 705 755-2280 Fax 705 755-1559, cell 705 868-8342

e-mail rick.rosatte@ontario.ca

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