What major wildlife species have returned?
The most conspicuous wildlife species that have returned to the blast zone are Roosevelt elk (Cervus elaphus) and the Columbia black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus). Large mammals did not survive but animals from adjacent, less-disturbed areas were able to move into the blast zone soon after the eruption. These animals found prime habitat due to the availability of high quality summer forage from surviving plants and winter forage from grass and clover planted to control erosion on the debris avalanche deposit west of the Monument. The availability of winter forage contributed greatly to the recovery of the elk population. It is not unusual to see large herds of bull elk running together on the debris avalanche or in the blast zone north of the volcano. Elk viewing is a very popular activity among Monument visitors. [C.
