Park Service, Activists Watch Water Supply For Tule Elk In Marin

MARIN COUNTY, CA — Activists and the National Park Service issued dueling statements on Wednesday about the availability of drinking water for tule elk penned in near a former ranch on Tomales Point at Pt. Reyes National Seashore.

Declaring an "Elk Emergency," the groups In Defense of Animals, ForELK and Rancho Compasión issued a statement Wednesday morning calling on the park service to provide water for the elk or accept emergency water aid for them.

"The thirsty elk are currently beset by drought and wildfire smoke and caged into the preserve by a fence which prevents them from accessing alternative water sources," the groups said, asserting that most or all the ponds the elk should be able to use have dried up. They included a photo of a dead elk lying near a "seep," a place where groundwater surfaces.

On the contrary, the park service said late Wednesday in a statement of its own.

"Park staff are making regular field observations and using wildlife cameras to ensure the herd has access to water sources," said Carey Feierabend, acting superintendent for Point Reyes National Seashore.

"If needed, we will provide water to the elk in the southern portion of the reserve."

The park service said in its statement that drought conditions across the region have led it to monitor water supplies for the elk, and it has observed water in streams, seeps and springs. The park service agreed that some of the manmade ponds were dry, but it said its cameras show elk visiting these natural sources.

The Woodward Fire burning in Pt. Reyes National Seashore is about nine miles away.

Also see:

Woodward Fire Burns 2,860 Acres In Marin As Containment Increases