California is the only place in the world that is home to three elk subspecies – tule, Roosevelt and Rocky Mountain elk. A new study indicates Rocky Mountain elk, previously thought to be a nonnative species in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, did live there historically, though not in high numbers.
Researchers combed through historical newspaper archives and found references mentioning 19th century elk hunts in northeastern California.
- “ELK AT LAKE BIGLER–We learn that two elk were killed at Lake Bigler, beyond the Zephyr Cove House, during last week. One of them weighed about five hundred pounds.” – The Carson City Daily Appeal 1867. (Note: Lake Bigler was the historic name of Lake Tahoe).
- “a hunting excursion to Honey Lake Valley… to Doyle’s ranch, in Honey Lake Valley, which place they made their headquarters for a seven-days hunt… Hunting was done principally on horseback. For the first three days all the game killed was a noble elk, which weighed 404 pounds, having antlers at least four feet in length.”- The Territorial Enterprise 1868 (Note: Doyle’s Ranch still exists in Lassen County, California).
Pioneers crossing the Sierra Nevadas in the 1840s also mentioned “bear, deer and elk” in their journals.
In more recent times, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s elk management plan documented Rocky Mountain elk that had moved into in the southern Sierra Nevadas.
Study researchers include Richard Lanman of Institute for Historical Ecology, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Wildlife Management Division Doctor of Philosophy Tom Batter and Nevada Division of Wildlife Elk and Moose Specialist Cody McKee.
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation did not supply funding support for this study.
(Photo credit: Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation)