West Virginia Welcomes 43 Elk from Kentucky’s Land Between the Lakes

Forty three elk from Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area have been transferred to West Virginia’s Tomblin Wildlife Management Area. Image by John Hafner

The elk herd that has attracted tourists to Kentucky’s Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area for nearly three decades is a little smaller thanks to an agreement with the State of West Virginia, which received 43 of the elk to help repopulate the Mountain State.

The move, completed April 3, is a big win for West Virginia, but it also benefits the elk herd at Land Between the Lakes.

“The 700-acre Elk and Bison Prairie can only support so many animals,” Curtis Fowler, a Forest Service wildlife technician at Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, told clarksvillenow.com. “Reducing the number of animals increases the quality of our herd and makes them more resilient to stressors.”

The elk will have access to more natural food and cover. The transfer also aligns with an original project objective, which is to maintain a healthy elk population for future wild reintroductions

After the recent elk relocation to West Virginia, the Land Between the Lakes herd now numbers 43.

“We are proud to play a part in the success of elk reintroductions, bringing life back to the species as a manageable natural resource in multiple states,” said Fowler.

Over the past 25 years, Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area has helped release 168 elk into the wild, including in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, as well as in wildlife management areas in Kentucky and Tennessee.

The recently released elk will live in the national recreation area at the Tomblin Wildlife Management Area in southern West Virginia.

“The USDA Forest Service and Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area have been an important part of the reintroduction efforts of elk back to West Virginia,” said Brett McMillion, director for the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources. “Since 2016, we have worked closely to bring 79 elk to the Tomblin Wildlife Management Area in Logan County. Their cooperation and assistance have been vital to the successes seen with the West Virginia elk reintroduction program.”