A friend of mine sent me this press release from the Iowa DNR.

ELK SHOT WEDNESDAY SOUTH OF CLEAR LAKE

CLEAR LAKE – A full grown elk was shot Wednesday afternoon by law enforcement officers south of Clear Lake after attempts to determine the animal’s place of origin was unsuccessful.

The elk was initially reported by motorists along Interstate 35 near the Burchinal exit. Spotting scopes were used to see if the elk had any tags on it that would have indicated it was part of a captive herd. Phone calls were also made to registered elk owners in the area to determine if there had been any animals missing from their herds.

After consultation with the state veterinarian’s office and the Iowa State Patrol, it was decided to shoot the elk to check it for disease and because it posed a potential hazard in proximity to the interstate. Since there are no wild populations of elk in Iowa, the likelihood of it being released or escaped from a captive herd is high, elevating concerns that the elk could have a disease that would be contagious to livestock and wild populations of deer.

For more information, contact Kevin Baskins at 515-249-2814.

Filed under: Elk, Iowa DNR