2 weeks Ago By Nolan Peterson
Boulder County's elk has been the focus of management plans geared toward maintaining the balance between wildlife and the preservation of natural resources. The Boulder County Parks & Open Space (BCPOS) department provided an update recently on the status of two separate elk management efforts at Ron Stewart Preserve at Rabbit Mountain and Red Hill. As per Boulder County, the program at the Ron Stewart Preserve has reached a point of success, indicated by the reduction of elk numbers within targeted goals, leading to a pause in hunting activities while keeping monitoring measures in place.
The Ron Stewart Preserve at Rabbit Mountain has seen a significant turnaround after eight years of controlled hunting practices. Elk populations have plummeted to the desired range of 30-70 individuals, allowing over-browsed vegetation, like mountain mahogany, to recover. As such, BCPOS staff are advocating for no more hunting at Rabbit Mountain shortly but request to keep the management plan active for three more years to continue monitoring.
Having once been overutilized by the elk, native grasses and forbs are now flourishing in areas once prone to the invasion of cheatgrass and other noxious weeds.During the Parks & Open Space Advisory Committee meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
on Thursday, March 27, at the Boulder County Courthouse, discussions will be held to consider the extension of these plans. The public has been invited to voice their opinions on the matter, indicating the department's aim for transparency and community involvement in environmental decision-making.In contrast, despite a record harvest in the Red Hill area, numbers remain stubbornly high, prompting BCPOS staff to recommend keeping the Red Hill Elk Management Plan going for another three years, albeit with a few tweaks.
One modification suggests limiting hunting to address the concerns raised on the west side of US 36, targeting the area just south of the North Pointe neighborhood. Conversely, considering using rifles in the program is another suggested modification, which could improve hunter success rates and diminish wounding loss.The success of these management plans illustrates the delicate balance wildlife managers strive to maintain.
Both the resurgence of native plant species and the need to adjust strategies based on changing elk populations speak to the dynamism at play in preserving Boulder County's valued natural landscapes. Locals and those with a stake in the environmental health of the region are encouraged to participate in the upcoming advisory meeting, ensuring that the voices of the community continue to shape the future of these crucial management efforts..
