Wild Elk?

I was watching a show on MSNBC Explorer about wild elk in Canada this evening. I was horrified to see that when the elk get too close to campgrounds, parks, etc, they traquilize them (that's OK) but then they took a big wire saw and cut off the beautiful antlers, right down to the skull.

My ever practical husband said there was no other way, for the safety of the rangers when they release it etc. A wildlife photographer they were interviewing said it all, IMO.

They showed some idiotic woman walking up to this enormous elk, like she was going to play with it or something. The photographer said that "if he turns around and hurts her, for her ignorance, HE will be the one that has to pay for it.

Am I being overly sensitive about this, or what? Thoughts?

Elk, like other deer, have antlers that are shed and regrown every year. The antlers aren't bones the way horns are, and don't have a blood supply or feelings after the velvet peels off. So while the elk are probably disadvantaged for the mating season, they aren't permanently disfigured and don't experience pain while the antlers are cut. Next year their antlers will grow back, just as big as before.

Of course, the potential social distress antlerless males may endure means that optimally, they shouldn't be de-antlered--it'd be so much better to find ways of training them to stay away from humans.

Tucker

My husband, but then, he's not as concerned about it as I am so I figured I'd better ask the professionals ;)

They do need to find a better solution though. They said later in that show that the same elk had wandered back to the campground 50 miles away, and HAD TO BE DESTROYED. :mad:

He had to be destroyed because he found his way back to his home that they took him from. It's infuriating, and just so sad. :(