Elk Population of NW Minnesota Estimated at 79 in 3 Herds

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- An annual survey estimates the elk population of
northwestern Minnesota at 79 animals in three herds.

While that's down from 83 last winter and 131 in 2015, the Minnesota Department
of Natural Resources says the main reason is that the Caribou-Vita herd travels
back and forth across the Minnesota-Manitoba border. Most of that herd was on
the Canadian side when the aerial survey was conducted.

But John Williams, the DNR's northwest region wildlife manager, says they're
concerned about the decline of the Grygla herd in Marshall County. While that
herd hasn't been hunted since 2012, he says the population continues to trend
downward. Observers counted 17 elk in the Grygla herd, down from 21 last year
and 18 in 2015. The DNR's goal for that herd is 30 to 38.