Time for Nature

How Do You Stop a Charging Elk?

May 10, 2004

Banff National Park of Canada

Aggressive elk behaviour
© C. P. Ernst, Parks Canada

No, not by taking away its credit cards, you avoid putting people and elk together.

Manicured lawns, well-tended golf course greens, attractive hedges and not a predator to be seen it's no wonder that by the mid-1990s as many as 400 elk had stopped migrating throughout the Bow Valley and were living full time in and around the town of Banff in Alberta's Banff National Park of Canada.

But with the park's ecology seriously disrupted and conflicts between the town's human and animal inhabitants increasing, the park and the town had to find a way to put the wild back into this wildlife species.

An ecosystem out of balance

By hiding in urban areas, the elk not only reduced a major food source for wolves and cougars their major predators but also affected species lower on the food chain. Willow shrubs were overgrazed by the elk. This left little for the animals, such as beavers and songbirds, that rely on the plants. Aspen also suffered: elk were eating the suckers, the new shoots the aspen send forth, before the suckers could grow into new trees.

Because of the stress of living in an urban environment, the elk became aggressive toward people who came too close. This was especially a problem during the spring calving season and during the autumn breeding season or rut. There were 106 reports of aggressive elk behaviour in 1999. This is an average of 7 reports each year between 1995 and 1999 of people actually struck by an elk.

A new home

Five years ago, the park and a local Elk Advisory Committee which includes representatives from the Town of Banff , the Banff Lake Louise Tourism Bureau and Bow Valley Naturalists began to take action.

More than 200 elk were trapped and relocated outside of the Bow Valley between 1999 and 2002. A dog handler, who works with cattle, and his border collies were also called in to slowly herd the remaining animals to equally attractive, but more natural habitat.

Herding the elk to more natural habitat
© E. Kloppers, Parks Canada

To make it easier for elk predators and other carnivores to crisscross the valley in their search for prey, the park also established wildlife pathways or corridors around the town. Parts of the corridors were permanently or temporarily closed to human traffic. New underpasses and overpasses were built to provide safe passage across the TransCanada Highway .

The park also began to educate the public. Posters around the town and talks at local schools got the message out about keeping a safe distance from elk (30 metres) and eliminating food sources and vegetation attractive to the animals.

On the road to recovery

Elk in Banff National Park of Canada
© E. Kloppers, Parks Canada

Widespread support from town residents and visitors has helped to reduce the number of elk in and around the town to fewer than 200 animals. More elk are migrating, and most are more wary of humans. In 2003, there were only 7 reports of aggressive elk behaviour and only one report of someone being struck by an elk. Willow shrubs have recovered nicely. Aspen are improving, but at a slower rate

The park plans to build on its success with research and monitoring and coordinating similar efforts with other organizations in the region.

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