The only place in the world to find tule elk is in central California.
Once on the verge of outright extinction as a subspecies, the population today numbers more than 5,000.
Getting there took a lot of work and dedication.
Among those helping ensure to future of tule elk is the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
From 1992 to 2024, RMEF completed 23 land projects that conserved 70,000 acres of habitat. The latest, in late 2024, conserved more than 3,300 acres.
RMEF also worked with partners to carry out 62 wildlife management projects, including fence removal and modification, and dozens of research studies to bolster elk population health, diseases, monitoring and overall management.
And over a 30-year period, RMEF supported 66 projects to maintain and improve habitat in the form of wetland restoration, prescribed burns, seeding, invasive weed treatment, repairing or establishing wildlife water sources and forest thinning.
The cumulative value of that hands-on California conservation work tops $60 million dollars – all good news for elk and other wildlife like mule and blacktail deer, black bears, mountain lions, wild turkeys and more.
Restoring elk country is core to RMEF’s mission of ensuring the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat and our hunting heritage.
Since 1984, RMEF helped conserve or enhance more than 9.1 million acres of wildlife habitat.