Elk Population Objectives for the Lake Huron North Shore Herd (Blind River)

Description of policy

Between 1998 and 2001, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF), in collaboration with many partners and volunteers, released 443 elk from Elk Island National Park in Alberta at four locations (Bancroft, Blind River, Sudbury and Kenora) across the province as part of an elk restoration program. Since 1998, monitoring has revealed that restored elk herds have grown, dispersed and in some areas struggled with adapting to Ontario’s diverse landscape patterns and uses.

In 2009, following public and stakeholder consultation, the ministry released Ontario’s Cervid Ecological Framework which provides overarching provincial guidance for the sustainable management of all Ontario’s cervid species (moose, deer, caribou and elk). Consistent with the Cervid Ecological Framework, and in response to the need for more species specific guidance for the management of Ontario’s elk populations, the ministry released an Elk Management Plan in 2010 and the Elk Population Setting Guidelines in 2011, following public and stakeholder consultations. The plan includes a number of objectives, strategies and actions to guide management decisions that support sustainable and healthy elk populations.

Based on elk population monitoring information and biological assessment, it has been determined that herds in the Sault Ste. Marie-Blind River area (Lake Huron North Shore herd - LHNS) have been growing at a rate of about 10-15% per year, and the population has quadrupled in size since the initial release. Under guidance from the Cervid Ecological Framework and with direction from the Elk Management Plan and the Elk Population Objective Setting Guidelines, a population objective of 300 elk (range 240 to 360) has been proposed for the LHNS elk population which would give consideration to a broad range of ecological, cultural and socio-economic factors. The population objective will guide future management and research actions which may include establishment of herds in new areas removed from agricultural areas and significant mortality sources (e.g. highways), using soft-release techniques. The preparation of this population objective is part of the continued implementation of Ontario’s elk management program as it evolves from a restoration based program to one focused on sustainable population management. Elk population objectives for the Bancroft-North Hastings herd were approved in 2011. MNRF continues to work towards setting population objectives as per the guidelines for all of the elk restoration areas in the Province.

Purpose of policy

To consult on a proposed elk population objective for the LHNS elk herd which will guide local management/research actions and support self-sustaining local elk populations for the continuous provision of ecological, cultural, economic and social benefits to the people of Ontario.

Other information

The following web links provide additional (or supporting) information.

• Proposed Elk Population Objective for the Lake Huron North Shore Herd (Sault Ste. Marie-Blind River Area) http://apps.mnr.gov.on.ca/public/files/er/lake-huron-north-shore-elk-population-objective.pdf


• Approved Elk Population Objectives for the Bancroft-North Hastings herd http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/displaynoticecontent.do?noticeId=MTEwNTI2&statusId=MTY3ODA1&language=en


• Elk Population Objective Setting Guidelines http://apps.mnr.gov.on.ca/public/files/er/elk-population-objective-setting-guidelines.pdf


• Elk Population Objective Setting Guidelines – Executive Summary http://apps.mnr.gov.on.ca/public/files/er/elk-population-objective-setting-guidelines-executive-summary.pdf


• Elk Management in Ontario website https://www.ontario.ca/environment-and-energy/elk-management-plan


• Policy for Protecting Agricultural Property from Elk http://apps.mnr.gov.on.ca/public/files/er/policy-for-protecting-agricultural-property-from-elk-may-2011.pdf  

Other public consultation opportunities

Additional consultation and outreach with interested parties regarding elk population objectives for the LHNS herd may occur locally concurrent to this policy proposal posting.