End of an era, last of Santa Rosa Elk

[asaxon]

Last of the Santa Rosa Elk hunts.

I was hiking on Santa Rosa Island this weekend over by S.E. Anchorage and saw lots of elk sign but didn't spot any of those famous Rosevelt elk. That reminded me that this is the last year of elk (and deer) hunting on this Island. I checked and the remaining hunts on the island are all reserved for the year so the animals not taken by those hunts will be “disposed of” by the owners before the end of the year or I suppose eradicated under the auspices of the Park Service. It is somewhat sad. But on the other hand, I went hiking about on San Miguel the day before and the difference is remarkable – clearly parts of Miguel are really on the way to returning to natural island scrub habitat rather than grasslands that are driven by grazing animals. You can see the grass on Rosa in the picture.


I had a buddy on the beach where we landed the inflatable. This baby harbor seal didn't seem too concerned by it all.


Here is a picture of the returning scrub on Miguel and some residents

 

[ltdann]

I kinda like the grass better. Besides, seals are protected, elk aren't. What a horrible mistake it was to make that decision.

 

[asaxon]

Yes, it is really too bad they didn't allow the Vickers/Vail people to have part of the island for the deer/elk or make a concerted effort to move them to the mainland or something. Apparantly, these herds have yeilded some real spectacular animals, e.g. have a great gene pool that will now be "history". It was "killed" by Sen. Feinstein who amended a piece to some legislation that made it impossible for the islands owners to get an exception a couple of years ago.

 

[BADBuckfever]

So let me understand this, the plants are more important than the elk?

 

[ltdann]

They will kill all the deer and elk on the island, claiming they are not native. Seems to me that most of CA is not native and I'd love to contribute some names to the eradication list.

 

[TonyS]

Isn't this part of some inverse condemnation scheme by gov't to take the island back from Vail & Vickers?

 

[rooster300wsm]

Did they just do the same thing in Catalina last year? It s to bad that people don't see what is happening around them. Were are all the Liberals in SF with the protesting and tree hugging.

 

[BADBuckfever]

Blind Brain Numb Sheep.

 

[Vermonster]

So let me understand this, the plants are more important than the elk?

Heck, plants are more important than alot of animals, according to some. I believe the reason the turkeys were all released on private land back here in the early 90's in San Diego, was because environmentalists argued that the turkeys would harm the native plants and insects.....:lol bashing sign:

They wouldn't let them release the birds on public land.

They're all idiots.....

 

[palladin]

<sigh>

The elk are already established...they should just leave them alone. I prefer the grass to...but then I like the Dakota's. :smiley_doh:

 

[asaxon]

Did they just do the same thing in Catalina last year? It s to bad that people don't see what is happening around them. Were are all the Liberals in SF with the protesting and tree hugging.

NO, NO, NO. The Catalina Conservancy did NOT try to eradicate the deer on Catalina nor are they planning on it. There were management hunts last year on Catalina and this year but in fact they are all full this year as I checked. They did eradicate the pigs and goats but the deer and a limited number 400-500 bison are staying at Catalina. The hope is to keep the deer at a relatively low level in the area on the eastern part of the island where there was a big fire several years ago to allow the vegetation to recover rapidly and thereby decrease erosion and other post fire issues. However, the deer are definitely ahead as last years rain and vegetation was excellent with most does having two fawns.

 

[asaxon]

They will kill all the deer and elk on the island, claiming they are not native. Seems to me that most of CA is not native and I'd love to contribute some names to the eradication list.

I call it "making birth control retroactive" and I'm a big fan of the idea!

 

[ltdann]

or Just adding some bleach to the gene pool!