Why study elk?
Elk are an important species to study for many reasons. Twenty-five years ago the government defined land use zones in the area based on critical periods of elk wintering. Since then, time, technology and climate change have altered the industry in this area so it is important to update the information. Contributing positively to the sustainable development in the region is a priority. Elk are abundant, so a large number can be studied at once. This will increase the accuracy of our research findings. This elk study data fits into other independent research conducted on this area and contributes to the big picture of Southwest Alberta’s ecosystem.