Del Norte officials and state wildlife staff outline steps and limits to curb elk overpopulation and hoof disease

Carrington Helsen, the Elk Research Biologist for California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Northern Region, told the Del Norte County Fish and Game Commission that officials are trying to reduce elk-related conflicts, expand hunting opportunity and lower disease transmission while also supporting elk on lands where they are welcome. “So we want to reduce conflict,” Helsen said, adding that officials also aim to “reduce transmission” of treponeme-associated hoof disease, or TAD, and “increase suitable habitat.”

Helsen described the local herd counts and how the department uses minimum counts, radio collars and samples from captured and hunter-harvested animals to guide management. She said the department counted a minimum of 366 elk in 2019 and 484 in the most recent minimum count, and that staff have lethally removed 142 elk between Del Norte and Humboldt counties, with the majority removed near Crescent City. “We first confirmed this disease in 2020,” Helsen said, and emphasized that diagnostic confirmation currently requires post‑mortem hoof samples, limiting testing of live animals.

Chad Dibble, deputy director for the department’s Wildlife and Fisheries Division, described the Sacramento office’s role and said the agency is “here to listen, we’re here to participate, and we’re trying to find some resolution.”…