rsg_book_2013

Mammalsunsuitable as a source forfuture state-wide reintroductions,as dictatedby state law, and requiredscreening (test and cull)prior to establishing a newfree-ranging herd withinPoint Reyes. The potential threat ofdisease transmission tothe insular tule elk at PointReyes, specificallyChronic Wasting Disease(CWD), made it difficult tosupplement the herd tomitigate the potential forVisitors viewing elk at Tomales Point © NPS inbreeding depression. A lack of effectivepopulation-limiting predators at Point Reyes allowed for rapid irruptive growthof the elk herds. The limited area available to elk at Tomales Point led to ashort lived fertility control program and one time removal of elk for relocation.The expansion of the free-ranging Limantour herd has led to concerns amonglocal cattle ranchers.Major lessons learned Screen for nutritional conditions within domestic and wild species at releasesite prior to the re-introduction. Trace element deficiency in elk at TomalesPoint was likely unavoidable due to naturally low levels of certain traceelements (copper and selenium) in the underlying soils and bedrock.Screening for diseases may not be practical as the presence of many diseasescannot be determined by screening. Identify potential population regulation factors prior to re-introduction.Knowledge of potential population limiting factors (or the lack thereof) mayallow predicting population growth based upon outcomes elsewhere andthereby allow identification of potential future management actions. Address means of alleviating potential inbreeding depression. Recognize the likelihood of public involvement in future management actionsand identify a socially acceptable means of any possible future populationcontrol prior to re-introduction. Quantify resource selection to predict areas of likely range expansion andpotential conflicts with human activities prior to a re-introduction. This mayallow for proactive human-wildlife conflict management.172