Kentucky rebounds: elk return after a century of absence

In 1997, officials in Kentucky began a program to restore elk populations by releasing 1,541 animals captured from six western states, Arizona, Kansas, North Dakota, New Mexico, Oregon, and Utah, into a 17,000 square kilometer area of southeastern Kentucky.

For over a century, elk had disappeared from the state, with the last one shot in Pennsylvania in 1877 due to hunting and habitat loss.

The reintroduction exceeded expectations, growing to a population of 13,000 elk, making it the largest elk herd east of the Rocky Mountains. Old coal mines played a surprising role in the elk’s successful return. Kentucky law requires coal mining companies to rehabilitate land after use, often by leveling it and planting grasses. These reclaimed mine lands created open grazing areas that supplemented the forested habitat, providing crucial food for the large herbivore population.

The mild winters and lack of predators like bears and wolves in the area also helped the elk thrive. However, the elk now inhabiting Kentucky are not the same as the original eastern elk that went extinct. The reintroduced animals are Rocky Mountain elk, a genetically distinct subspecies that has adapted to the new environment. While the reclaimed land provides habitat, it isn't equivalent to a natural meadow.

The elk’s resurgence has also brought economic benefits to Kentucky, generating an estimated five million dollars annually through hunting and wildlife observation.