Save the Tule Elk

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Tule Elk

(Cervus canadensis nannodes)

Pronounced “Tool-E or Too-Lee elk” | Coast Miwok Peoples of Marin call the elk “Tule-Tante” pronounced “Too-lay tawn-tay”

Rare and iconic tule elk are a majestic sight to behold and these native animals happen to be endemic to California as well (found nowhere else). They are not only an emblem of our state’s beautiful natural heritage, this subspecies of elk is also a conservation success story since they nearly went extinct not long ago. Nevertheless, today there still remains a lot of work to do on behalf of tule elk conservation.

This brief short film honoring our beloved tule elk is being used for outreach efforts.

The end of the film text: In the midst of the Anthropocene, there is no time to waste, let us start prioritizing our interconnected ecosystems and those unique beings within them once and for all. Tell the National Park Service in Point Reyes National Seashore to honor our rare, iconic, and native Tule Elk. Do not kill them or keep them fenced in, wildlife must be free to roam.

**An Umbrella Species**

When we protect tule elk, we also protect countless other species that share the same ecological communities that the tule elk exists in and prioritizing tule elk ends up benefitting a wide variety of unique and important habitat types as well.

**A Key Player**

Prior to the arrival and expansion of settlers, tule elk were the original large dominant ungulate in California. Acting as browsers and grazers, they fulfill a critical role in maintaining open native grasslands rich in biodiversity while lessening the degree of soil compaction and erosion in comparison to non-native cattle.

Numbers to Consider

500,000

Tule Elk in California historically and the number estimated in 1850

(California Department of Fish & Wildlife)

5-10

Tule Elk in 1870 after settler & agriculture expansion, hunting, etc.

(California Department of Fish & Wildlife)

5,500 +/-

Tule Elk left on Earth today

94,400,000

Cattle in the United States in 2019

(Statistics from the United States Department of Agriculture)

5,125,000

Cattle in California in 2019

(Statistics from the United States Department of Agriculture)

5500 +/-

Cattle on Point Reyes National Seashore managed lands today

Return to Point Reyes

In 1960, The Committee for the Preservation of the Tule Elk was founded by Mrs. Beula Bates Edmiston.

This Committee searched for land where elk could be reintroduced with freedom to roam. Point Reyes National Seashore was an obvious candidate for reintroduction of this near exterminated native species. In 1978, a small herd was re-established, albeit to a sliver of their historical range here at the Tomales Point area in the northern tip of PRNS. The Committee’s work was instrumental and successful in its advocacy. Tule elk were finally back home.

“One of the most majestic sounds that you will ever hear in the wilderness, in the wild, here on the hillsides of the Point Reyes National Seashore, is the call and trumpeting of the Tule elk. It’s powerful. It’s tremendous. It moves you spiritually. It sends a chill up your back and the reason why that does that is it touches your soul.”

— Terrance Chitcus Brown (Karuk Tribal Member & U.S. Marine Corps Veteran)

(from our friend Skyler Thomas’ film “The Shame of Point Reyes”)

Reintroducing tule elk back to a portion of their historical range in PRNS has helped increase their overall population which was once near extinction.
Tule elk have improved nesting habitat for birds in some areas. Bulls break up woody plants that provide cover for different species and their antlers continue to provide an important source of nutrition to a variety of wildlife as well.
The areas in which this native grazer and browser is found have more ecological integrity and balance than areas where cattle are prioritized. One can observe a far greater diversity of plant and animal life.
Tule elk are an enormous attraction. Millions of visitors from around the world visit PRNS. Our native elk remain one of, if not the most popular reason people visit this National Seashore.

Death & Dishonor

In 2020, the National Park Service announced their annual elk count in PRNS. Over 152 tule elk died within the fenced-in Tomales Point Tule Elk Reserve. A year later in 2021, over 72 died. In two years time, over half of the Tomales Point herd died, that is some 224+ rare, iconic, native tule elk!

These photographs, all taken in Point Reyes National Seashore within the “Reserve” (or just outside of it along the fence line), reveal the ongoing death and dishonor inflicted upon this beautiful and majestic species in our one and only West Coast National Seashore.

These particular elk are unable to naturally roam within the seashore because they are kept behind a large 8ft fence on land that cannot support them with adequate water, forage, and minerals. During droughts, the herd at Tomales Point suffers even more.

While spending extensive time with these particular Point Reyes tule elk, Mission Rewild’s Matthew Polvorosa Kline originally uncovered and documented this latest tragedy.

The work remains ongoing and personal for him.

SENSITIVE CONTENT WARNING

Some of the photographs in the slideshow below are not only horrific, but the circumstances surrounding them are also deeply distressing.

A bull elk stands outside the Tomales Point Tule Elk Reserve, while a band of bulls within look out through the fence during rutting season. The bull outside the “Reserve” actually stands on top a hillside of liquified cattle manure that was previously spread around here via truck earlier in the year.
The same 8ft fence prevents elk from escaping and those who are alone on the outside from socializing with those on the inside.
A grand bull, his antlers caught in older rusted fencing that was just left haphazardly dangling on the inside of the "Reserve" even though newer fencing had been installed in its place.
A close-up of the grand bull with his antlers caught in the old rusted fencing.
A large section of older fencing, that has just been left to rust. This section sits within the "Reserve" having been "replaced" by newer fencing some yards away. Is it historical?
Tule elk remains within sight of the fence.
A stock pond within the "Reserve" that has gone bone dry during yet another drought.
Another dry stock pond. These ponds within the "Reserve" are one of the key water sources for the elk.
This poor young male was found dead in a drainage which sometimes has water, but the water seen in this image, actually came from the previous night’s rain.
Not long after this photograph was taken, the Park Service stated that there were numerous water sources available to the elk within the "Reserve" even if many of these appeared to us to be completely inadequate.
The remains of this poor elk were scattered all over the place. This photograph was taken just over two months after the previous image was taken, and only yards away.
This hide was found right to the side of the main Tomales Point Trail. Numerous remains both old and new were documented all across the “Reserve."
At one point the Park Service said that most of the remains being found were old… yet another excuse in a long line of excuses to take pressure off from doing anything for these struggling and dying elk.
This herd of elk was successful earlier in the year with rearing some calves. Here, during a heat wave, they kept close to one of the few remaining water locations that was adequate - so they thought.
A young male, eyes appearing full of life, was actually lifeless, stuck in mud at the same location where the previous image showed the lingering herd.
Another male stuck dead in the same location as the last image. This being one of the locations the Park Service stated had "adequate water" even though they admitted trying to rescue a 3rd elk out of this exact spot, some weeks later. That elk also died.
A Park Service trail camera set up to monitor one such “adequate water source.” This location is often disturbed by cars and visitors to Tomales Point.
This elk apparently did not find one of the "numerous streams, seeps, and springs" that were "flowing pretty heavily, pretty steadily" as the Park Service stated around the time.
Less than one hundred feet from the dead elk in the last image, this poor individual was found.
This is a photograph of the same exact elk as seen in the last image, but taken less than one month later, showing just how fast remains can change.
Not all remains are of large adults, sick individuals, or old elk. Some are young, some appear completely healthy.
A beautiful area of the seashore, with nice coastal views, but yet another location with remains nearby.
This large bull had a massive set of antlers and was found within sight of the “Reserve” fence.
It’s not just the tule elk that are found dead within the “Reserve.” Here a black-tailed deer is found recently deceased. Yet another documentation of very new/recent remains.
Although elk remains are an important source of nutrition for many native species within the "Reserve." The amount of remains is more akin to a graveyard.
This elk was found with wire wrapped all around its body, a great distance from any nearby fencing.
A detailed close up of the same elk wrapped in wire. Yet another individual that suffered a horrendous death.
A section of the “Reserve” fence that goes in four different directions. Not what visitors expect to see when touring their public lands.
The Park Service has previously stated that they do not see elk hanging around the “Reserve” fence. Contrary to their opinion, the area along this fence is often a good place to spot elk.
Tule elk are not the only species trying to get out of the “Reserve” or deal with the endless fencing. Badgers, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, deer, and other species have to contend with this unnatural barrier.
More elk in and around the “Reserve” fence, this time in winter, when there is some adequate water and forage nearby.
Another impressive bull found dead.

Free The Elk

Take Down the Fence

After scrolling through the photographs above (which is just a portion of the documentation), it’s quite clear how completely unnatural and shortsighted Park Service management has been regarding these incredible sentient beings. As long as the 8ft fence remains, one can be certain that more tule elk will continue to suffer and die in the Tomales Point Tule Elk Reserve at Point Reyes National Seashore.

“As a certified wildlife biologist and retired member of the U.S. Department of the Interior, I conducted research about the tule elk at Pierce Point in Point Reyes National Seashore during the 1990s. The studies included elk population dynamics, habitat use, foraging behavior, food preferences and vegetation sampling to better understand long-term trends. I also helped build a number of exclosures.

During the large elk die off several years ago, I think the penned in herd at Pierce Point hit a choke point. Severe drought probably did dry up water sources and limited forage. Having individuals with Johne’s disease likely contributed to heavy mortality in that population.

To hear that park officials are stating that there are a number of water sources there now (or have been observed recently) does not mean they were there during crunch time.

Personally and professionally, I am for free-ranging elk and the posthaste phasing out of the ranches that have really overstayed their welcome. Historically, Point Reyes likely had up to 5,000 tule elk. Now it likely has more than 7,000 head of cattle, yet ranchers are complaining about a few hundred elk.

These are our lands. The park is the heritage of our children, grandchildren and beyond.

Ranching has a place in our society but not at our National Seashore.”

— Dr. Judd Howell

Elsewhere in PRNS

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN AMENDMENT

As for the tule elk outside of the Tomales Point Reserve. The situation is also extremely disappointing and headed in a disastrous direction.

The National Park Service and the Department of the Interior, under the guidance of Secretary Deb Haaland, have finalized a decision on the controversial Point Reyes National Seashore General Management Plan Amendment (GMPA). The Record of Decision for the Alternative B Plan, was not only publicly unpopular, but severely lacking in scientific integrity.

In fact, the Park Service’s very own Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) stated as much. Out of the six “Alternative Plans” the park could have adopted, they chose the one with the most negative impacts on the whole environment, including native wildlife, native flora, water, soil, air, etc.

The impact on tule elk, who are specifically targeted in the plan, calls for killing members within the free-ranging herds - elk, that agriculture leaseholders complain eat too much grass.

Currently, the numbers of tule elk in PRNS are approximately somewhere between 400-550, as continued die-offs take there toll. This is obviously a far cry from the number of cattle here currently (approximately 5,500).

Of course we are deeply disappointed in the continued persecution and scapegoating directed at our beloved tule elk - the shortsighted management decisions, the genetic strain kept in place on the overall population, the barriers preventing reintroduction, and the roadblocks to a more whole and healthy overall species recovery.

“What a profound feeling it must have been for those who had a hand in saving the tule elk from the brink of extinction in the last two centuries. We are all better off and forever indebted to those who did such honorable work. Nevertheless, it’s now the 21st Century, and if you ask me if the work is anywhere near complete, I would say we are just beginning. The tule elk story is one to continue writing. A voice for this majestic wild one, is a voice for the past, present and future of California.”

— Matthew Polvorosa Kline