Monitoring plan for vegetation responses to elk management in Rocky Mountain National Park

Product Type: Open-file Report

Year: 2011

Author(s): Zeigenfuss, L.C., T. Johnson, and Z. Wiebe

Suggested Citation:
Zeigenfuss, L.C., T. Johnson, and Z. Wiebe. 2011. Monitoring plan for vegetation responses to elk management in Rocky Mountain National Park: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2011–1013. 85 p.

Abstract

Rocky Mountain National Park in north-central Colorado supports numerous species of wildlife, including several large ungulate species among which Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus) are the most abundant. Elk are native to Rocky Mountain National Park but were extirpated from the area by the late 1800s. They were reintroduced to the area in 1913–1914, and the elk herd grew to the point that it was actively managed from 1944 until 1968. In 1969, the active control of elk was discontinued and since then the herd has increased to a high point ranging from 2,800 to 3,500 between 1997 and 2001...