Elk analysis v2
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This document summarizes a study conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to analyze suitable habitat for the elk population in Wisconsin. An experimental elk herd was introduced in 1995 and grew to nearly 100 animals within 10 years. In 2000, a management plan was approved for the Clam Lake elk herd, establishing core habitat areas and population objectives. Over a decade of telemetry data collecting over 29,000 elk locations was used along with land cover and forest data to create a habitat suitability index for elk. The analysis considered winter foods, winter cover, spring foods, road density and land ownership to determine high quality habitat.
Elk analysis v2
- 1. Where Do the Elk Play ? Jerry Sullivan, GIS Data Specialist Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Bureau of Technology Services jerry.sullivan@wisconsin.gov 608-266-5428 Wisconsin Land Information Association February 15- 17, 2012, Stevens Point
- 3. Wisconsin Elk Habitat Suitability Analysis “An experimental elk herd of 25 animals was released into the Chequamegon National Forest near Clam Lake, Wisconsin in 1995. This herd thrived and increased to nearly 100 animals within 10 years. The project’s experimental phase ended and responsibility for the herd transferred from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. In June 2000, the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board approved a management plan for the Clam Lake elk herd. This plan established core and buffer areas, described habitat and population management techniques, and set population objectives.”
- 4. Wisconsin Elk Habitat Suitability Analysis Previously, potential elk habitat was analyzed in relation to WISCLAND Land Cover, derived from 1992-1993 Landsat imagery, for variables including: winter foods, winter cover, and spring foods. Two social elements also found as important were used in this Habitat Suitability Index (HSI): road density and land ownership.
- 13. Wisconsin Elk Habitat Suitability Analysis Over the course of more than a decade (1999-2010), WDNR field researchers collected over 29,000 elk locations by telemetry.
- 16. Wisconsin Elk Habitat Suitability Analysis USFS staff also created geodatabase themes of forest stand data for federal lands, with 50 classes of stand types, and photo-interpreted a land cover layer of 13 classes for private inholdings, and a five-mile buffer around the Chequamegon Nicolet National Forest (CNNF). (The former lack formal metadata; the latter have complete metadata.)
- 30. Wisconsin Elk Habitat Suitability Analysis Thanks to Deb Veen, USFS, and Scott McBride, WDNR, for assistance with data sharing and temporal data preparation. Thanks to Matthew McKay, Laine Stowell, and Bill Ceelen, all of WDNR, as project sponsors.