Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) and biologists with Yellowstone National Park counted 7,579 elk over two days from the Northern Yellowstone elk herd.
Karen Loveless, FWP biologist, told the Billings Gazette that she credits the 42 percent increase from a year ago due to the inconsistency in the ability to see animals from the air.
“What we do know is the population trend is increasing,” said Loveless. “So that’s great. The goal was to slow the rate of decline, so since 2013 the decline has stabilized and populations have increased. Now the challenge is we’re over objective.”
(Photo source: Chasing the Wild Outdoors)