Bulkley Valley farmers have provided the results of an elk count to the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Management in the hope it will be used to develop a management plan for the wild animal.
On Jan. 23, the Skeena Regional Elk Committee (SREC), asked the public to take part in a survey of the number of the animals in the Skeena region.
The committee of farmers, ranchers and environmental groups held the count in an effort to back-up their claim that funding was needed to stop the animals ruining farmers’ crops and eating stored feed.
About 190 elk were counted in the Bulkley Valley, primarily in the Round Lake area, and another 80 were recorded in the Lakes area near Francois Lake.
Pleasant Valley Cattlemen's Association president Linda Dykens, who is also a member of the SREC, said she believes the results were conservative because there was heavy fog on the day of the count.
“They are hard to count because they are so nocturnal so we're still asking people if they see them to write them down and let me know,” she said.
“So we can keep track of where they are at what time of the year.”
The Association hopes the information from the count will help the Ministry develop an elk management plan.
She said the group was also working with the Ministry of Agriculture in a bid to secure funds for protective fencing.
To report elk sightings contact Linda Dykens on 250-845-3013.