New Mexico Elk from KRQE, Channel 13, Albuquerque
Posted by Pete | Posted in News | Posted on 25-01-2013
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http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/environment/video-nm-elk-video-goes-viral
hunters and animal lovers, this is some sight….Thanks to a viewer of Channel 13
Update: Did you know that the estimated New Mexico Elk population in 2011 was 82,000 elk? In 1912 hunters had almost eradicated the elk population in New Mexico as it was estimated at 60 elk. By 1934, the population had grown to 4000 elk statewide. During 1939, 1948 and 1955 they moved and restocked certain areas of New Mexico. The population grew to 8000 in 1958, 12000 in 1967, 53,000 by 1982. In the year 1994 10,000 elk were harvested. By 1999 our elk population was 72,000. The elk feed on grasses, forbs, and woody brows and need plenty of cover during the day. Private land owners help preserve some of the herds. They spilt up into smaller herds while resting, normally 25 to 30 and travel in larger numbers, some extremely large herds such as shown in the video.
It is really neat to drive across an expanse of nothingness and suddenly see the very rocks begin to move in the form of a vast herd of elk. I am simply glad that it wasn’t me on a bike with a video camera. I might have felt threatened. I was chased by a pickup truck once; but it, at least, had an intelligent driver, though drunk or asleep. That was nothing like being chased by a herd of elk like this. Where do these elk find sufficient food in this dry country? There must be an over population in the elk herds of New Mexico as there are an over populaton of deer in other places.
The high mountain area has plenty of food for this herd and this is just one herd of many. The food is not located along the highways but back in those areas seldom visited by man. Pete
Yeah! But I thought it was dry in the mountains too, including in Colorado. Is the drought broken? I hope so. It would be neat to prove Al Gore wrong, but I’m afraid it is not.
We get some mositure, enough to feed most of the wildlife in most areas. The bears have been coming down from the mountains into the cities looking for food. So, its not great in all areas, but so far the elk, deer and antelope have done ok.
There is still the question of over population in the elk herd just like in the people herd.