Reflet_2015_04_09

New breed of elk on the Prescott-Russell scene ACTUAL I TÉ • NEWS

seen of the alleged ” show a reddish colouring to the animal’s body hair, unlike the tawnier brown colouring of a true elk. Also, those animals bearing antlers have palmated type antlers similar to red deer rather than straight cluster of sharp tines typical for an elk’s antler rack. More than a decade ago, MNR established a herd of 170 elk in the Bancroft area.Those elk were tagged and also had radio collars attached to them to help MNR staff track their movements. Most of the original herd has since died, as a result of natural causes, predators, or hunters, but the herd has flou- rished and grown in size with newborn elk that have grown up and become adults. Allan noted that some of those wild elk, untagged and lacking radio collars, may have wandered away from the Bancroft area, made their way into Prescott-Russell and mixed with local deer herds in the rural woo- ded areas throughout the region. He would like local farmers and hunters, or any other residents, if they are able to send himmore photographs of these potential hybrids and also hair and scat samples if possible so he and other researchers can determine if the “ wild elk

animals are true elk or a red deer/elk hybrid. Whether or not these “ wild elk ” pose a potential problem for local farming ope- rations is still an open question. Ken Da- lrymple, a retiredMNR conservation officer nowmanaging a small beef cattle farm in the Clarence Creek area, has seen elk tracks and found other signs in and around his property but he’s had no problems with the animals, whether they are true elk or hybrids. “ They’ve been in and around with the cattle, ” Dalrymple said. “ The cattle pay no mind to them or to deer. They (cattle) are a little more nervous of the moose. ” Dalrymple noted that he’s had no damage to the fencing around his pastures, and sus- pects the elk just jump the fence when they get in among the herd. They also seem to ignore or step around the gravity-feed plas- tic pipeline sap collection setup he has for the small sugar bush operation in a grove of sugar maples located on a steep hillside. “ The squirrels are worse than the elk, ” Dalrymple said, chuckling. “ They chew the (plastic) pipelines. The elk just either jump over them or steer clear. ”

elk sightings so far in the Clarence-Rockland and Wendover areas may not be due to the MNR project or even be actual wild elk alto- gether. “ It appears from the photographic evi- dence that they are red deer/elk hybrids, ” saidMike Allan, anMNR wildlife resources technician attached to theministry’s Peter- borough operations area and working out of Trent University. “ They may have escaped from a local elk farm or somewhere. ” Allan noted that the photos he has now dawn and dusk periods when deer aremost active during their own travels in search of food. Also, keep high-beam lights during these periods tomake sure of advance notice of deer crossing in the dim light. Motorists are urged to watch roadsides for the sudden appearances of deer which may be planning to cross. If a deer is spotted already on the road, motorists should slow down and keep a watch even after the deer has crossed. Deer most often travel in groups and another deer may still be hiding in the woods just off the road, waiting to cross. If a deer is seen on the road, motorists should flash their headlights and sound the horn several times to encourage it to move on fast.

GREGG CHAMBERLAIN gregg.chamberlain@eap.on.ca

It looks like an elk but it isn’t, not quite, though it may not be of much concern to hunters and farmers in the Prescott-Rus- sell area. Back in 2000, theMinistry of Natural Re- sources (MNR) launched a project to reintro- duce elk to the Ontario wildlife landscape. The results have proven successful but wild

Deer warning for drivers

Another sign of spring is the increase in the number of encounters betweenmotorists and wildlife. The OPP have issued a deer warning for drivers using the rural roads through woo- dland areas during their travels. Police in some Eastern Ontario communities have already had calls about collisions between deer and vehicles. First rule, police advise, is to obey the posted speed limit when driving through the countryside and make sure everyone in the vehicle has their seatbelts fastened. Be alert at all times when driving through roads posted with “Deer Crossing” signs, with special attention paid to the roadsides in woodland and pasture areas during the

Aide aux aînés pour faire leurs emplettes Les Services communautaires de Prescott-Russell offrent un service de transport pour les aînés afin de les aider à faire leur épicerie. Une fois par semaine, le mardi ou le jeudi, une personne se rend chez l’aîné pour le prendre à bord de sa voiture et le ramener. Pour plus de détails, on appelle Françoise Lavoie au 613-362-6734. Les personnes qui demandent ce service doivent transporter leurs sacs eux-mêmes.

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