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Thirty-six elk are set to be released Saturday (March 8) morning at the Royal Blue Wildlife Management Area. The elk were residing at the Land-Between-The-Lakes Management Area and the move was announced last week pending a clean bill of health that was given to the herd this week.
The elk began the trip to their new home on Friday morning in four tractor-trailers. They will be held overnight at Royal Blue WMA with the release scheduled for 10 a.m. The release location will be on Massengale Mountain where the first elk were released in 2000. The public is invited to attend.
The transfer is a part of the Elk Restoration Program. The elk are being moved from the 700 acres at LBL to the open area of 670,000 acres of Royal Blue WMA. Many of the elk being transported have been at LBL since the program began in 1996.
The herd being transferred includes 19 male adults, nine adult females, four male calves, and four female calves. They will join the existing herd of an estimated 200-250 elk already located at Royal Blue WMA.
The project is a joint effort between Campbell Outreach Association (CORA), the UT Veterinary School, USDA, Animal Plant, Health Inspection School (APHIS), LBL Friends Group, U.S. Forest Service, LBL volunteers, and TWRA staff and volunteers.
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