Elk return to Missouri after 150-year absence

The hills around Peck Ranch Conservation Area

once again will echo with the bugles of bull elk.

Conservation Commissioner Chip McGeehan
took an active part in welcoming Missouri’s
first elk to their new home at Peck Ranch Conservation Area.

WINONA—Sometimes words simply fail. Missouri Conservation Commission Chairman Becky Plattner was struck speechless this morning as she stood in the blue dawn light atop a remote ridge in Carter County. She was listening to sharp snorts and muted barks coming from a stock trailer holding 34 elk. Overwhelmed by emotion after opening the trailer door, she turned to Conservation Commissioner Chip McGeehan and placed her hand over her heart in a gesture of awe.

McGeehan joined Conservation Department biologists wielding plywood shields as they herded the elk from the trailer and through a series of gates to sort them into holding pens. When he glanced up at Plattner, she teased “Why are your eyes so big, Chip?”

“We’re making history,” he replied.

McGeehan was referring to the return of wild elk to Missouri after an absence of 150 years. The elk began their odyssey in January, when they were captured by MDC staff in cooperation with biologists from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.  Three months later, with the requirements of stringent veterinary-health protocols met, the elk made a 12-hour trip by semi-trailer, arriving at Peck Ranch Conservation Area shortly after 6:30 a.m. The timing was critical to keep the animals cool and minimize stress.

Plattner and McGeehan joined officials of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and MDC staff directly involved in the elk-restoration effort for the elk’s arrival. They watched as MDC staff guided six bull elk and 28 cows and calves into separate holding pens.

“Who would have thought 30 years ago that we would be standing here this morning watching elk return to Missouri?” MDC Director Bob Ziehmer mused. “This amazing event is a continuation of the Conservation legacy that Missouri Citizens created and continue to support today”

Conservation Department workers used a series of gates
to sort elk into three separate pens according to their age and sex.

Ziehmer said the return of elk to Missouri marks a new era in the Show-Me State’s conservation history. The fact that Missouri now has appropriate habitat for elk is tangible proof that long-term, landscape-scale habitat conservation and restoration efforts are coming to fruition.

“When I saw those animals come off the trailer it made the hair on the back of my neck stand up,” said RMEF Missouri State Chairman Dave Pace. “Seeing these animals come back, so generations and generations of Missourians will get to see them, is a very momentous occasion. This is a great day for wildlife, it’s a great day for conservation and it’s a great day for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and all our volunteers. This is what we work for.”

Twenty-three-thousand-acre Peck Ranch CA is at the heart of a 346-square-mile elk restoration zone that encompasses parts of Carter, Shannon and Reynolds counties. After an acclimation period the elk will be released into Peck Ranch’s rugged hills and valleys, where MDC has been working for 30 years to recreate the landscape-scale type of habitat that sustains multiple species of wildlife.

The RMEF is a major supporter of Missouri’s elk-restoration program.

“There is no higher calling in conservation than restoring a native game species to sustainable, huntable, balanced populations,” said RMEF President David Allen in a prepared statement. “We are proud to partner in that kind of effort in Missouri, just as we have been in Kentucky, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. As in those places, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is in this for the long haul in Missouri, too. We will remain by your side to ensure these elk not only arrive, but thrive. And we’ll be here to help you show conservationists around the world what is possible when you dream big and never give up.”

Missouri’s elk will remain in the holding pens at Peck Ranch for up to two weeks to allow them to acclimate to their new home. When the time comes to release the elk from the pens, workers will quietly open gates at night, so the animals can leave on their own when they discover they no longer are confined.

By 7 a.m. today, Missouri’s’ first elk were grazing calmly
 in their pens at Peck Ranch Conservation Area.

“It’s called a ‘soft release,’” said Resource Scientist Lonnie Hansen. “This is a technique recommended by our partners in Kentucky, based on their experience. They found that if they brought elk in and released them directly from trailers, the animals bolted from the area. That increased the risk of injury to the elk, and it didn’t encourage them to stay near the release site.”

For the same reason, said Hansen, MDC had a low-key arrival event at the holding facility when the elk arrived.

Peck Ranch’s refuge area will remain closed to the public through July. By then, all the calves will have been born and adjusted to their surroundings.

Hansen said MDC is counting on habitat restoration that has been underway at Peck Ranch for more than 30 years to encourage the elk to stay within the 346-square-mile elk restoration zone. He said MDC’s elk-restoration plan includes provisions to deal with elk that find their way onto land where they are not welcome. Long-term plans call for hunting as a tool to manage the size of the elk herd. When hunting commences will depend on how quickly the herd grows, but Hansen said it could begin as soon as 2015.

Event May 14 at Towosahgy State Historic Site is cancelled

JEFFERSON CITY, MAY 4, 2011 – The Mississippian Cultural Day at Towosahgy State Historic Site near East Prairie scheduled for May 14 has been cancelled because of flooding in the area.

For current information on events in Missouri state parks and historic sites, visitmostateparks.com.

Missouri-bound elk get clean bill of health

Image via Wikipedia

All requirements of a stringent veterinary-health protocol have been met.

JEFFERSON CITY—All 34 animals intended as the nucleus of an elk herd in Missouri have passed the final round of health testing and are ready to board a trailer for the trip to Peck Ranch Conservation Area.

            Missouri’s elk originally were scheduled to arrive April 30. The Missouri Department of Conservation delayed the event to permit completion of veterinary-health testing.

“Protecting the health of Missouri’s existing wildlife and the state’s livestock industry has always been a high priority of the elk-restoration program,” said MDC Director Bob Ziehmer. “We are extremely pleased to know that the elk we trapped in Kentucky in January have met all the requirements of stringent health protocols developed in consultation with the Missouri Department of Agriculture. Now we can work on getting them here.”

Dr. Aaron Hecht, a veterinarian with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, conducted health testing on Missouri’s elk with a veterinarian from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Hecht said the elk have fulfilled requirements under the health protocols developed by MDC in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Agriculture. He said he is very pleased with the overall health of the Missouri-bound elk.

“We have communicated from the beginning that we would bring elk to Missouri only if they were healthy,” said Ziehmer. “The recent delay has been disappointing to those who are eager to return elk to Missouri, but it was absolutely necessary for us to follow the testing protocol.”

-Jim Low-

Outdoor learning event offers family fun at WOW St. Louis June 4-5

 JEFFERSON CITY, MO., MAY 4, 2011 –   Are you looking for family fun with an outdoor twist? If you want to experience something new and learn more about the outdoors, WOW St. Louis is for you. Enjoy a day filled with outdoor activities at the 2011 WOW St. Louis event in Forest Park on Saturday, June 4.  This exciting experience begins that morning with classes in a variety of outdoor skills and ends with a cookout on Saturday night, followed by an overnight camping experience.

WOW National Outdoor Recreation and Conservation School is packed with opportunities to learn skills to enhance your outdoor experience. The event, scheduled from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, is sponsored by Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Division of State Parks, Bass Pro Shops, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Forest Service, Missouri Department of Conservation, Wonders of Wildlife, National Park Service, St. Louis Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry, St. Louis County Parks, and Audubon Society at Riverlands. Participants may also register for an overnight camping experience that extends through Sunday morning.

            WOW St. Louis is designed to teach participants how to enjoy a wide range of outdoor recreation activities while practicing personal safety and outdoor responsibility. This year, the event will offer classes in a variety of outdoor skills including archery, canoeing, fishing, woodworking, orienteering, rock climbing, outdoor cooking and more. Classes are open to anyone age 9 years or older. The cost to attend is $10 per person or $25 per family, making it an affordable day of family fun.  Financial assistance is also available.  Advance registration is required, and the deadline to register is May 16.

 An enhanced day camp experience is offered for younger participants. The “It’s All About Outside” Kids Camp is open to kids ages 4 to 8 years old whose parents and older siblings are participating in WOW.  Led by qualified National Park Service and Missouri Department of Conservation staff and volunteers, the kids camp will offer children an exciting day of activities, including fishing, treasure hunting, crafts and games.           

            The day of classes will be followed by a cookout and overnight camping experience in Forest Park on Saturday night. Activities will include outdoor games, a campfire, campfire stories with Cowboy Bob, a Leave No Trace Workshop and stargazing. Tents will be available to those who don’t have one on a first-come, first-served basis.  The event will end on Sunday morning with breakfast snacks.

            For more information or to request a registration packet, contact the Missouri Department of Natural Resources at 314-340-5794 or toll free at 800-334-6946 (voice) or 800-379-2419 (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf). Or, you can send an e-mail to moparks@dnr.mo.gov.  Registration information and forms are available atmostateparks.com/wow.

State Parks Youth Corps job fair May 14 at Watkins Woolen Mill State Park and State Historic Site

JEFFERSON CITY, MO., MAY 4, 2011 -- Young Missourians have an opportunity for a summer job while learning new skills and discovering Missouri state parks and historic sites. Information about this year’s State Parks Youth Corps will be provided at a job fair Saturday, May 14 at Watkins Woolen Mill State Park and State Historic Site near Lawson.

The job fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the visitor center and museum. Staff will be available to answer questions about the program and what opportunities are available for this year.

            The State Parks Youth Corps will provide jobs for youth 17-21 years of age from April 1 through Nov. 30.  Youth will earn $7.25 an hour and work throughout the state, enhancing and improving Missouri state parks and historic sites. The program also will provide them with work experience and an opportunity to learn new skills and possible careers in natural resources.

Youth corps members will perform a variety of tasks from routine maintenance work and trail construction to guided tours and social media efforts. Examples include painting buildings and repairing roofs and windows; planting trees and maintaining landscapes; building and maintaining trails; inventorying historic artifacts and native species; assisting in offices and visitor centers; and providing tours and programs.

First initiated by Gov. Nixon in 2010, the State Parks Youth Corps is a partnership between the Missouri Division of Workforce Development, the Missouri Division of State Parks, and Missouri’s local Workforce Investment Boards. The local boards help recruit and place individual youth in work positions at the parks. Park staffs provide guidance and leadership to the youth workers throughout the summer.

This year’s program is funded by Workforce Investment Act 15 percent funds and youth must meet Workforce Investment Act guidelines, which include low income or other eligibility requirements. Income guidelines vary from an income of $10,890 for a family of one to $37,630 for a family of eight or receiving public assistance or food stamps. Other eligibility requirements include areas such as qualifying as homeless; or being a foster child, school dropout or being deficient in basic literary skills.     

Applications and additional program information, including eligibility guidelines, are available at MO.gov. Interested applicants are encouraged to visit with the local Workforce Investment Boards about eligibility guidelines.  

In 2010, State Parks Youth Corps members at Watkins Woolen Mill State Park and State Historic Site assisted with grounds maintenance, repaired buildings, conducted tours and operated the reception desk at the visitor center. In 2011, job duties may include grounds maintenance, caring for the heirloom garden, painting buildings, conducting tours of the woolen mill and the Watkins family home, and participating in the Living History Farm Program. For information about the job fair, call the park at 816-580-3387. For information on Missouri state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com.

Learn new campfire cooking tips May 14 at Crowder State Park

Image via WikipediaJEFFERSON CITY, MO., APRIL 21, 2011 – Are you tired of eating only hot dogs and s’mores when you go camping? Learn new tips for campfire cooking May 14 at Crowder State Park near Trenton. The event, which will begin at 2 p.m., will focus on how to make meals while camping using everything from aluminum foil to Dutch ovens. Samples will be provided for participants. Call the park office at 660-359-6473 to pre-register by May 11.

Crowder State Park is located west of Trenton off Highway 6. For more information about the program and the park, call 660-359-6473 or toll free at 800-334-6946 (voice) or 800-379-2419 (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf). For information about state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com.

Missouri state park major tour caves open to visitors in 2011

Image via WikipediaJEFFERSON CITY, MO., APRIL 12, 2011 -- Visitors to Missouri state parks this summer will have the opportunity to tour the system's four major tour caves. Many other caves that are commonly used by bats will remain temporarily closed to reduce the risk of spreading white-nose syndrome, a fungus that affects bats but not humans.

White-nose syndrome is a fungus that has devastated bat populations throughout the northeastern United States and is spreading west. Bats showing evidence of the fungus were found in 2010 in two caves in Missouri. Restricting public access to certain caves is believed to help reduce the risk of any people-born transmission of the fungus from cave to cave.

"We have been monitoring this situation closely and have made decisions based on what we believe protects our resources while still allowing visitors some form of access to the unique experience you can only find in caves," said Bill Bryan, Missouri Department of Natural Resources' State Parks director.

The four tour caves that will be open are Onondaga Cave at Onondaga Cave State Park (open for local school groups and the general public April 15); Cathedral Cave at Onondaga Cave State Park (open to local school groups on April 15 and May 15 to the general public); Fisher Cave at Meramec State Park (open to local school groups on April 16 and May 15 to the general public); and Ozark Caverns at Lake of the Ozarks State Park (open to local school groups on April 16 and May 15 to the general public). To help prevent the risk of human transmission of the fungus from cave to cave, screening measures will remain in place. Visitors who tour the caves are asked to not wear the same clothing, footwear, accessories or equipment that has been in any other cave.

In 2010, most of the park system's wild caves used by bats were closed except for specific exceptions like educational tours and low-risk groups in specified wild caves. While this policy remains in effect, the number of caves that may be accessed for educational and scientific purposes in 2011 has increased.

"This year, we have more clearly identified caves that we believe can be used for certain purposes, especially school groups and other educational efforts. This allows us to provide access to more caves while still protecting the resources," said Bryan. The accessible caves include shorter caves, those that do not have bats, and those caves that have exceptional educational value for schools.

To find out which caves can be accessed, contact the individual park where you would like to visit a cave. For more information about cave tours, visit mostateparks.com/activity/cave-tours.

State park staff will continue to work with other state and federal resource agencies, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Missouri Department of Conservation, on a management plan to address white-nose syndrome in Missouri state park caves.

Missouri has more than 6,300 caves. Bryan emphasized the agency policy concerning the 183 caves in 18 state parks and historic sites does not apply to other caves in Missouri. Most if not all commercial cave tour operations remain open for business. For information on privately owned caves or those operated by other agencies in Missouri, contact the agency or private business or landowner that owns the cave. Information on other caves can be found at mocaves.com.