More publicly owned habitat is being added to the land base occupied by Wisconsin's elk herd. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has purchased a 120-acre parcel within the Chequamegon/Nicolet National For est. The foundation's Kevin Wallenfang says the group will hold the Snipe Lake parcel until 2008, when the U.S. Forest Service should have money budgeted to complete the purchase.
Wallenfang says the parcel adjoins the elk herd's range around the Clam Lake area in northwest Wisconsin, and will provide ideal habitat for the elk, which now number some 115 animals. Wisconsin's elk herd was established in 1995 with 25 animals from Michigan. Wollenfang says wolves have now become the elks' number one predator, and the herd has not seen any growth in the past couple of years.