Predators lower elk population
By MIKE STARK Of The Gazette Staff

Wolves and other predators continue to control the number of elk along the northern fringes of Yellowstone National Park, state and federal biologists said Tuesday.

Not only are the elk killed by predators, but large carnivores also cause the herds to break into smaller groups and disperse, which makes it more difficult for biologists to find them during annual surveys.

quote:

The number of elk counted this year - part of a decline since the mid-1990s - corresponded with an increase in the number of wolves on Yellowstone's Northern Range.

The Northern Yellowstone herd, the park's largest, has been the source of controversy for years, not only from accusations years ago that they were overgrazing the landscape but later out of concern that they were being decimated by wolves.

The 6,738 elk counted Dec. 30 during an annual survey is about 150 more than a count last March and significantly lower than the 9,545 counted in January 2005.

http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/01/17/news/state/30-predators.txt

Didn't we have well over 7,000 in the Dec. 2005 elk count?