Bugles and Boundaries: A Comparative Analysis Between Free Ranging and Restricted Elk Breeding Behavior
Grade Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
Wildlife Biology and Conservation
Institution 25-26
Murray State University
KY House District #
5
KY Senate District #
1
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Howard Whiteman
Department
Dept. of Biology
Abstract
Eastern elk (Cervus elaphus canadensis) were pronounced extinct in the United States in the late 1800s. Since then, continued restoration efforts have successfully reintroduced elk from western states into their native eastern range, including Kentucky. At the Elk and Bison Prairie (EBP) in Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, a managed herd occupies a 700-acre fenced grassland shared with American bison. While this enclosure has contributed to restoration programs, limited movement in the fenced area may influence both their mating behaviors and vocalization patterns. Because male elk typically defend harems and travel vast areas during the rut, confinement may alter these strategies, resulting in increased territorial behavior, shifts in spatial use, or changes in bugling frequency. This study investigated how mating behavior and vocalizations in EBP elk differ from patterns in free-ranging populations. Behavioral observations were conducted before, during, and after rut, paired with continuous acoustic monitoring using automated recording devices (AudioMoths) placed throughout the prairie. Recorded audio will be analyzed using AI-assisted software to identify and quantify bugling events. Behavioral and acoustical data will be analyzed to characterize bugling frequencies, as well as mating behaviors of the captive elk. Results will establish whether enclosure size and demographic constraints influence mating strategies in a captive, semi-wild herd. Results will guide future management practices at EBP, while contributing to behavioral research in restored elk populations.
Bugles and Boundaries: A Comparative Analysis Between Free Ranging and Restricted Elk Breeding Behavior
Eastern elk (Cervus elaphus canadensis) were pronounced extinct in the United States in the late 1800s. Since then, continued restoration efforts have successfully reintroduced elk from western states into their native eastern range, including Kentucky. At the Elk and Bison Prairie (EBP) in Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, a managed herd occupies a 700-acre fenced grassland shared with American bison. While this enclosure has contributed to restoration programs, limited movement in the fenced area may influence both their mating behaviors and vocalization patterns. Because male elk typically defend harems and travel vast areas during the rut, confinement may alter these strategies, resulting in increased territorial behavior, shifts in spatial use, or changes in bugling frequency. This study investigated how mating behavior and vocalizations in EBP elk differ from patterns in free-ranging populations. Behavioral observations were conducted before, during, and after rut, paired with continuous acoustic monitoring using automated recording devices (AudioMoths) placed throughout the prairie. Recorded audio will be analyzed using AI-assisted software to identify and quantify bugling events. Behavioral and acoustical data will be analyzed to characterize bugling frequencies, as well as mating behaviors of the captive elk. Results will establish whether enclosure size and demographic constraints influence mating strategies in a captive, semi-wild herd. Results will guide future management practices at EBP, while contributing to behavioral research in restored elk populations.