Female and Neonate Survival and Cause Specific Mortality in Kentucky Elk

Title: Female and Neonate Survival and Cause Specific Mortality in Kentucky Elk have grown to over 14,000 in Kentucky over the past two decades, but information about calf production and survival that is critical for sustainably managing the population is over a decade old. We propose to use a combination of GPS collars and vaginal implant transmitters to locate and capture newly born calves to determine survival and causes of mortality. A secondary goal is to characterize movements and habitat use of pregnant cows which is poorly understood in the eastern U.S. We are requesting funds to increase the number of collars deployed (sample size) associated with the project that is ongoing with Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources during the winter and summer field seasons in 2022.