Boulder County Seeks Input On Red Hill Elk Management Plan

BOULDER COUNTY, CO — Boulder County parks officials are reaching out to residents to ask for input on the management of the Red Hill Elk Herd. An open house will be hosted Feb. 5 in Longmont.

The herd, which roams along both sides of US 36 between Heil Valley Ranch and Table Mountain, has grown rapidly and could cause "extensive damage" to the diverse native plants and wildlife in the area, according to Boulder County Parks and Open Space.

The Colorado Department of Transportation said the region is a dangerous highway for elk crossings, with many elk-vehicle collisions in the region each year.

The Heil Valley Ranch and Table Mountain area has been historically used by the herd during fall and winter after migrating down from their summer range at higher elevations, parks officials said. However, a growing number of elk have recently ceased migration and now spend their summer at low elevation on county-owned properties and the Table Mountain area.

(Stay up-to-date on Boulder news with Boulder Patch! There are many ways for you to connect and stay in touch: Free Newsletters and Email Alerts | Facebook)

The open house in Longmont will also discuss the extension of Rabbit Mountain's Elk & Vegetation Management Plan at Ron Stewart Preserve. A short presentation will be given showing the progress made at Ron Stewart Preserve over the past three years and a second presentation will discuss the options being considered for the Red Hill herd, parks officials said.

The open house will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Feb. 5 in Longmont's Ron Stewart Parks & Open Space Building, 5201 St. Vrain Road.

More information about the open house and elk management in Boulder County can be found here.