

Range map from Alaska Department of Game & Fish, 3.

This puts the elk population total in Alaska around 1300 animals. The most recent estimations we could find said there are about 900 elk total on Rasberry and Afognak Island, and another 400 on other islands, mainly Etolin and Zarembo Island. It was not successful on the mainland, however some elk population was able to establish itself on Raspberry Island and Afognak Island, as well as some of the other islands in the Aleutian island chain. A re-introductory effort was made in the 1950’s with some elk from Pacific coast herds (Rocky Mountain elk and Roosevelt elk). AlaskaĮlk are not native to the state of Alaska, however in the 1920’s some were brought into the state as ranch animals. You can read more about the “Alabama Elk Experiment” at the DCNR page. It is still occasionally discussed by the Department of Conservation but as of 2020 there were no plans to try this reintroduction experiment again. Due to various problems such as disease, poaching and crop damage, this did not work out and the last of the elk was reported killed by 1921. They were released in five counties to attempt to reestablish the population. For a brief period in 1916 a small group of 55 Rocky Mountain elk were brought into the state by the Department of Game and Fish. There have not been any natural populations of elk in Alabama since the early 1800s. *Populations estimates are believed to be accurate but not guaranteed as of 01/2021 They are accurate to the best of our knowledge. The following population estimates were taken from state government websites and other authoritative sources. Historically elk ranged across much of the country, but the over hunting and habitat loss that came with the European settlers nearly wiped them out by the early 1900’s. Many of these 19 states had a population of elk at one time, as you can see from the map below.

Rhode Island – unlikely to have had a population at any time.New York – extirpated, last elk recorded in 1847.New Hampshire – elk may never have lived in New Hampshire.Massachusetts – extirpated, last elk recorded in 1732.

