Officials are investigating a shocking poaching spree in Northern California. According to a press release, four Roosevelt elk were shot and killed in Redwood National Park this summer.
The elk were found dead on July 21 in an area of the park near the Williams Ridge along Bald Hills Road. The elk were left to rot in the field.
Elk hunting is prohibited in National Parks. Additionally, National Park Service (NPS) officials say that the elk were shot with lead ammunition, which is prohibited from being used for hunting in California to protect California Condor recovery efforts. In fact, the poaching incident took place near a recent species reintroduction project led by the Yurok Tribe. Lead ammunition is known to poison the critically endangered carrion.
Roosevelt elk are one of six subspecies of elk in North America. It is the largest member of the species, which live in the coastal mountains and forests of the Pacific Northwest. The subspecies was once common from Sonoma County, California through British Columbia. Today, the only places in California where Roosevelt elk are found are in Humbolt County, where Redwood National Park is located, Del Norte County, and western Siskiyou County.
The recent poaching incident is currently being investigated by Redwood National Park rangers and California Department of Fish and Wildlife wardens. Officials are asking for tips that may help them locate the culprit.
“Tourists from all over the world and Californians alike enjoy the opportunity to see Roosevelt elk within their historical home range at Redwood National and State Parks,” wrote an NPS spokesperson. “Park rangers are committed to protecting these amazing animals and urge the public to help them in this effort.
