Novel evidence that elk were historically native to the Sierra Nevada, and recent range expansions into the region.

ABSTRACT: Elk (Cervus canadensis) have been considered non-native to the Sierra Nevada mountain range of California and Nevada. However, elk have steadily increased their range southward from the Cascade Range into the northern Sierra Nevada over the last century. Recent reports also reveal Rocky Mountain elk moving northwards into the southern Sierra Nevada. Dispersals of lone bull elk from 2019-2022 have occurred to the central Sierra Nevada south of Lake Tahoe. These recent range expansions of elk herds and long-distance dispersals of individual elk raised questions about the possible historical presence of elk throughout this mountain range. Herein we conducted a broad investigation into historical newspaper accounts and other early explorer and naturalist observer records, museum specimens, Lat

SUBMITTER: Lanman RB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11410259 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature