Comments on: From Whence Cometh The Mystery Elk?

By: backwoods

backwoods — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 01:06:21 +0000

The PA Elk population is in the North Central part of the state outside St Marys near a small town called Benezette. It would have traveled over 350 miles from the PA herd. Seems much more likely that its origin is Kentucky or escaped from a farm.

By: Jeremy_Wells

Jeremy_Wells — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:30:59 +0000

cryptidsrus, This part of Ohio is mostly flat, open agricultural land, with scattered woodlots and trees along fencerows… but not a lot of hiding spots for critters as big as an elk. +++ The elk in Kentucky were introduced in the late 90s, and they are limited to the southeastern portion of the state. See more. This particular Lisbon is in Clark County as I understand it, which is closer to smack dab in the middle of the state (from north to south) and pretty far west. Now, if this elk were found in southeastern Appalachian Ohio, say in Lawrence or Gallia County, I'd say one might have wandered just a bit north. But this was hit in the "flat lands" part of the state.

By: cryptidsrus

cryptidsrus — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:53:09 +0000

Interesting story. Probably either the Elk crossed state lines after being released or there is an undetected population of Elk in Ohio? Maybe? That would be Awesome.

By: vamelungeon

vamelungeon — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 01:06:46 +0000

There are elk (wapiti) in Kentucky as well. They have come here to Virginia from Kentucky and are doing very well. DNA tests should be able to confirm the origin of this elk.

By: Loren Coleman

Loren Coleman — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:41:13 +0000

Right, tripped myself up there, with the elk (moose) in Europe vs elk (wapiti) in North America, re: non-cryptid elk vs cryptid moose in NZ. Thanks R. Hays. Too much packing.

By: Roddy Hays

Roddy Hays — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:05:23 +0000

The elk in NZ are certainly not cryptid. They are a viable target for many hunters and several are taken every year.

There is, however, a cryptid population of moose on the South Island. Sightings and tracks have been reported over the years since several animals of Canadian origin were released there in 1910. A recent DOA testing of a hair sample seems to confirm that they still exist in the deep damp reaches of the South Island fjordland forests and may well be an established New Zealand mammal resident.

By: JMonkey

JMonkey — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:48:29 +0000

According to several reports the Elk (wapiti) found in New Zealand were given as a gift in 1909 by President Roosevelt to New Zealand. They were released into the Fiordland in the Southwestern part of the South Island and reproduced rapidly according to Cardrona Safaris of New Zealand.

By: woodwose

woodwose — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:29:12 +0000

Let’s play the name/numbers game. This particular Lisbon is in Clark County on Rt. 54. It’s less than 10 miles from the Fayette County border. The other Lisbon is in Columbiana County and is only about 10 miles from the Pennsylvania border so if this had occured there, there wouldn’t be any mystery about an elk straying over from PA. However, I found it amusing that, less than a mile from the Columbiana County Lisbon is a little burg called “Elkton” on Rt. 154. Go to MapQuest and just put in “Lisbon” and go to the Columbiana County one and you’ll see it.