The Battle Between Ranchers and Tule Elk Coming to a Head in Point Reyes

Point Reyes National Seashore, sitting north of San Francisco on the California coast, is home to a flourishing wildlife population, including elephant seals, black-tailed deer, great blue herons and bobcats. But the species that has flourished the most are the tule elk, and it’s becoming a big problem for dairy farmers.
The Point Reyes elk is one of the largest herds in California, and because they’ve taken up a home at residence of the grassy fields near Drakes Beach, they are competing with dairy cows for grass feeding. And now, after a bi-partisan bill passed through The House of Representatives in September 2018, officials may kill some of the elk to provide relief for the cows.
The National Park Service has scheduled two hearings this month to review six proposals regarding the conflict between the elk and cattle ranchers. The proposals include reducing ranching and dairy cattle in Point Reyes, or renewing 20-year leases to ranchers and limiting the number of tule elk in the area.
In essence, the decision is a battle between dairy ranches and elk. If the ranchers win, officials may begin killing the tule elk and limiting the Drakes Beach herd to 120. Environmentalists staunchly object the plan, saying it would sabotage a decade-long successful reintroduction of the elk to the region. Tule elk, once sitting at populations near 500,000, were hunted to near extinction during the Gold Rush. Now the population sits around 3,800.

“The plan would destroy wildlife habitat, harm endangered species, degrade water quality and lead to killing of some of the park’s most iconic wildlife, including tule elk,†said The Center for Biological Diversity Spokesman Jeff Miller in a written statement.
But the plan isn’t as simple as that. At the center of the thinning sits the dairy farmers, who pay rent to raise cattle on the land and have existed at Point Reyes since the 1860’s. In fact, when President John F. Kennedy signed the bill that acquired the land as a national park, part of the deal was allowing the dairy farmers to stay in the area. The government bought the land from the farmers and they have been paying rent ever since, a deal that was critical for the designation of the park.

“What we would like to see is, put the elk, keep them separate from the working farms and ranches, keep them separate in the 70 percent of the wilderness area,†said longtime rancher Bob McClure. “They’re fine there! We do not dislike elk.â€
Currently, two dozen dairy and ranching families have leases on the national seashore and on the adjacent Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
A public review and comment on the alternatives is open until Sept. 23. The public hearings on the draft environmental impact statement for the General Management Plan Amendment are 5-7 p.m. Aug. 27 at the West Marin School gym in Point Reyes Station and Aug. 28 at the Bay Model Visitor Center in Sausalito.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about website.
Regards
Having read this I thought it was very enlightening. I appreciate you finding the time and effort to put this
article together. I once again find myself personally spending way too much time both reading and commenting.
But so what, it was still worth it!
Hey There. I discovered your blog the usage of msn. That is a very neatly written article.
I’ll be sure to bookmark it and return to learn more of your
useful info. Thanks for the post. I will definitely comeback.
Thank you a bunch for sharing this with all of
us you actually know what you are talking approximately!
Bookmarked. Please additionally discuss with my web site =).
We could have a link trade arrangement among us
That is a very good tip especially to those fresh to
the blogosphere. Simple but very accurate
information… Many thanks for sharing this one.
A must read post!
I don’t even understand how I finished up here, however I thought this submit used to be good.
I do not understand who you are however definitely
you’re going to a famous blogger in case you aren’t already.
Cheers!
Way cool! Some very valid points! I appreciate you penning this
article and also the rest of the site is very good.
It’s remarkable in support of me to have a site, which is valuable for my experience.
thanks admin
If you would like to obtain a great deal from this piece
of writing then you have to apply such techniques to your won blog.
Have you ever thought about adding a little bit more than just your articles?
I mean, what you say is fundamental and all. Nevertheless just imagine if you
added some great graphics or video clips to give
your posts more, “pop”! Your content is excellent but with pics and
clips, this website could definitely be one of the greatest in its niche.
Wonderful blog!
We stumbled over here different web page and
thought I might check things out. I like what I see so i am just following you.
Look forward to exploring your web page yet again.
If you wish for to obtain a great deal from this paragraph then you have to apply such techniques to your won blog.
Hi there i am kavin, its my first time to commenting anyplace, when i read this paragraph i thought i could also make comment due to this brilliant article.
Hey there would you mind sharing which blog platform you’re
using? I’m looking to start my own blog soon but I’m having a difficult time making a decision between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and
Drupal. The reason I ask is because your layout seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something completely unique.
P.S Sorry for getting off-topic but I had to ask!
This paragraph will assist the internet users for setting up new blog or even a weblog from start to end.
Hey! I could have sworn I’ve been to this website before but after browsing through some of
the post I realized it’s new to me. Anyhow, I’m definitely glad I found
it and I’ll be bookmarking and checking back often!
Excellent goods from you, man. I’ve understand your
stuff previous to and you are just too wonderful. I actually like what you have acquired here, really like
what you’re stating and the way in which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you still take
care of to keep it sensible. I can’t wait to read far more from you.
This is actually a tremendous site.
excellent issues altogether, you just won a brand new reader.
What may you suggest about your post that you
made a few days ago? Any certain?