Elk wanders onto Wauzeka sheep farm
By Correne Martin
A bull elk, rare to Crawford County wildlife, wandered onto a sheep farm in rural Wauzeka last week. No one seems to know where he came from, although a regional DNR wildlife biologist suspects it is a wild elk, about 2-3 years old, that came down from a Black River Falls herd.
Rhonda and Greg Cerven own the rural property, just across Highway 131 from Husher Park, about 5 miles outside of Wauzeka toward Steuben.
The 6x6, ginger and chestnut-colored elk first appeared on the Cerven farm Sunday morning, Oct. 25, according to Rhonda. He was still roaming their acreage around midday Tuesday, Greg said. There were a few scuffs to the fur on the elk’s left ribcage area, but he looked to be in general good health.
If passers-by haven’t seen him, Greg said, it’s because he goes around their barn to stay out of the wind and in the sun.
The elk seems, to the Cervens, to be unintimidated by their flock of sheep, and actually content to stand near them or bask in the open field among them. He also made his way up close to the fence near their home, and has not been spooked by their talking or activities either.
The Cervens both explained that she and her family weren’t feeding the elk to keep him around, nor were they doing anything to drive him away. They had not contacted the DNR to report the animal, as they didn’t feel he was disturbing anything on their land.
The Cervens have not been contacted by anyone missing an elk from their ranch.
According to callers to the Courier Press Friday about their sightings of the animal, area rut reports, trail cam footage, and hearsay, the elk is probably the same one spotted in Richland County and northern Crawford County.
Dan Goltz, wildlife biologist from Viroqua, agrees with that assumption that it is the same young bull elk—also spotted in the Mt. Zion area about one week ago.
"It seems like it's a young male looking for a cow," he stated. "What's happening is we only have two dominant bull/cow groups in the Black River Falls or Clam Lake area. If you're not that dominant bull, you leave and start looking for cows."
Goltz thinks this elk could continue its path south before hitting the Mississippi River, and then he would most likely turn back and head to where he originated before the winter gets too snowy.
He recommended that, if members of the public happen to see the elk, they should keep their distance to be safe. With deer hunting season upon us, Goltz reminded hunters to be certain of their target. He said there is an elk season in Wisconsin; however, there are only five licenses allocated.