Kicking off this week and heading into mid-June, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has begun this year’s elk calf collaring project.
With plans to capture and collar upwards of 30 elk calves in the northeastern region of the state, officials are hopeful the data derived from the project will aid them in assessing elk population and calf recruitment estimates for the region.
A combination of both Rocky Mountain and Roosevelt elk calves will be targeted as biologists and staff members survey the area from the air via helicopter. As bedded calves are located, crews in the air will alert those on the ground as to the whereabouts of the elk. Each captured calf will be fitted with a radio-tracking ear tag that will give state researchers and biologists detailed information regarding habitat use, survival, and movements of calves for the following year.
The project is taking place in both Siskiyou and Madoc counties on U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands as well as private properties where permission for access is granted.