Public Meeting To Discuss Nuisance Elk In Section Of Bell And Harlan Counties Set For Dec.11

FRANKFORT, Ky. - The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources will host a public meeting to discuss issues involving nuisance elk on private property along KY 221 between the Kettle Island area and Tackytown in Bell and Harlan counties. The meeting will be held at the Right Fork Elementary School in Stoney Fork at 7 p.m. Dec. 11. The school is located at 5296 KY 221.

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife staff will be on hand to update citizens on the success of the pilot project so far, to answer questions and to listen to suggestions.

In 2006, the department was notified of issues with elk causing property damage and vehicle collisions in the Stoney Fork community near the Bell/Harlan County line. Since then, several meetings have been held with public officials, landowners and local citizens to provide educational opportunities regarding elk nuisance strategies, to address specific concerns and to discuss potential solutions.

During the last six years, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife has worked to address these concerns. Solutions have included visiting landowners to offer guidance on dealing with nuisance animals; creating a late-season special hunt for antlerless elk in the area; and relocating problem animals from areas where hunting is not feasible. In 2011 and 2012, local landowners participated in an ongoing pilot project to assess the effectiveness of various methods of reducing elk damage.