Elk call parts of Alaska home. While not as widespread as moose or caribou, their presence is a unique story of introduction and adaptation. These large deer have established populations in specific island habitats, contributing to Alaska’s diverse wildlife. Their journey highlights conservation efforts and the animals’ resilience.
The Story of Alaska’s Elk
Modern elk in Alaska are not native to the mainland; ancient populations existed during the Pleistocene epoch but died out. The elk seen in Alaska today are descendants of animals intentionally introduced from the Pacific Northwest, primarily for recreational hunting and to provide an additional food source.
The first introduction occurred in 1929 when eight Roosevelt elk calves from Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula were transplanted to Afognak Island, near Kodiak. Biologists initially considered releasing them on Kodiak Island, but concerns from ranchers about competition for winter food with cattle led to their relocation to Afognak. This initial group successfully established a wild population in the Kodiak Archipelago.
In 1987, a second translocation brought elk to Southeast Alaska, specifically Etolin Island near Petersburg. This effort involved 33 Roosevelt elk and 17 Rocky Mountain elk, sourced from Oregon. This introduction followed several earlier, unsuccessful attempts to establish elk in the region, highlighting the challenges of such translocations.
Where Alaskan Elk Thrive
Alaskan elk populations primarily thrive on several islands with temperate, maritime climates that provide suitable forage. The descendants of the 1929 introduction are found on Afognak and Raspberry Islands within the Kodiak Archipelago. This herd expanded significantly, reaching 1,200 to 1,500 animals by 1965, though harsh winters in the late 1960s and early 1970s caused some population reduction. By the late 2000s, this Afognak/Raspberry population stabilized at around 900 elk across eight herds.
The elk introduced to Southeast Alaska in 1987 established themselves successfully. These herds are mainly located on Etolin Island and the nearby Zarembo Island. Despite initial high mortality after their release, the Etolin population grew to an estimated 100–125 animals by the early 1990s, with some dispersing to form a breeding population on Zarembo. Current estimates suggest approximately 400 elk inhabit these two islands, with about 75 percent residing on Etolin.
These island environments provide a mix of open woodlands, grasslands, and forest edges, which elk prefer for foraging and shelter. Their diet shifts seasonally, from grasses, forbs, and leafy greens in warmer months to branches and twigs of trees and shrubs during winter. While factors like hunting, disease, and predation by brown bears can influence herd sizes, these introduced populations have demonstrated a capacity to adapt and persist in their unique Alaskan island homes.