Officials trumpet return of elk to West Virginia

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

John Raby, Associated Press
Updated 3:49 pm, Monday, December 19, 2016



HOLDEN, W.Va. (AP) — On land where coal was once mined, officials have trumpeted the return of an elk herd to West Virginia for the first time in 141 years.

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and officials from the state Division of Natural Resources and other agencies introduced the public to 24 elk Monday in a wilderness area bearing his name in southern West Virginia.

Hundreds of people showed up Monday to snap photos and view the elk a few hundred yards away in a holding pen where they're getting acclimated. They'll be released later this month.

The holding pen is on reclaimed coal mine property, where grasslands have been cultivated and are considered key for sustaining elk.






Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Officials-trumpeting-return-of-elk-to-West-10805291.php

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[Coventina]

1. This just in: Elk herd shot by over-enthusiastic hunters....

I know the elk license in my state are highly sought after and poaching is common....

[Paladin]

6. Were the Trump boys involved?

They've got a new scam working---you can spend a shit-load of money to kill animals with them. And the proceeds...wait for it...go to conservation efforts.

And no, I'm not making that up.

[Coventina]

7. I feel literally sick.

People who kill for fun have something seriously wrong with them.

Hunting for animals to eat, as long as it is sustainable, I am actually fine with (although I don't eat my cousins on the tree of life myself).

But so-called "trophy" hunting, such as the Trump boys do, is nothing but a display of being a sociopath.

[Paladin]

9. Details of the Trump kids' deal is currently on politico.com.

They call it their "Camouflage and Cufflinks" part of the inauguration festivities. Best not to read it on a full stomach.

[jpak]

2. When will the bison come back?

They ranged as far south and east as Georgia preColumbian.

[Tanuki]

12. I would love to see the bison return to West Virginia, where they

were once common. There are at least two towns in the state called "Buffalo, " including one in the county where I grew up. A road that I always traveled on part of the way to reach the local airport was reputed to have been built upon an old buffalo path.

[handmade34]

3. I know you used exact title of article

but please no 'T' word anymore

[Judi Lynn]

4. No kidding! Didn't even notice. I feel ill. n/t

[doc03]

5. The goal is not returning elk it is building up a herd of elk so people

will pay an arm and leg for a kill permit.

[Aristus]

8. Where they will promptly die from drinking lead and mercury-contaminated

river water...

[Mendocino]

10. First in 141 years?

I have a book copyright 1968 simply named The National Forests of America by Michael Frome. In it is a picture of a elk in Monongahela NF West Virginia.

I think the AP writer got his facts skewed.

[AngryAmish]

11. I had some elk chops last weekend.

Very nice.