Did you know that eastern elk once inhabited New York’s Adirondack Mountains and surrounding areas? Elk once ranged throughout the eastern US, including in the Adirondacks. The last eastern elf was killed in the 1870’s, in Pennsylvania, this species is now extinct!
In the early 1900’s, 175 elk were reintroduced to New York’s Adirondacks State Park. In 10 years the population had grown to 350, mostly due to poaching and some by a brain disease transmitted by deer. The elk population did not survive, the last known elk was killed in 1946.
Elk can and should be reintroduced back into the Adirondacks and other parts of New York State.
The Elk Foundation, a national conservation organization, dedicated to the restoration of elk in its native terroraries ,would help with financing and the expertise needed to make elk restoration a success in New York!
Here is the top state as of 2024 boasting the largest elk herds which hold the key to planning your dream elk hunt. A complete list of elk populations by state shows Colorado (290,000 elk): Colorado reigns supreme with its massive elk population.
Please contact New York State’s Department of Environmental Protection and the Governor, asking to support the reintroduction of elk back into it native land, New York!!