The elks are getting out of control on the Oregon Coast (Portland: home, live)

[Metlakatla]

Oregon coast residents are now having to deal with elk becoming a nuisance:

https://www.wweek.com/news/2018/12/1...dmlPAH4tlVqiz8

Droves of Wild Elk Are Chasing Down Minivans and Harassing Residents on the Oregon Coast

One Gearhart resident, Pauline Como, tells High Country she was recently attacked in her minivan by an elk who charged at her vehicle and gnawed at the door, "leaving bovine-sized teeth marks."

[pdxMIKEpdx]

Coincidentally, it just happens to be the perfect time of the year for a government sanctioned "culling" of the herds that would be a great benefit for the Clatsop County Oregon Food Banks and homeless shelters!

Isn't there a big wildlife area chock full of Elk around Jewell?
I wonder why the article doesn't mention that.

https://myodfw.com/jewell-meadows-wi...visitors-guide

Well, at least Elk are tastier than Sea Lions!

[BendLocal]

If they really were PRONE to shut down highways and trample pets this would be in the news frequently.

But why are the elk in that area comfortable around humans when they have a reputation for being the ghosts of the forests because they are naturally skittish and fearful of humans?

From the original article:

But some people forget how dangerous elk can be, or never knew it. They feed the animals apples from their outstretched hands. They take selfies with them. They give them names like Huey, Louie and Olaf. The result is that the elk have begun to lose their fear of humans. “People are stupid. They’re making pets out of these animals,” Beth Weaver said.

[Larry Caldwell]

Originally Posted by BendLocal

If they really were PRONE to shut down highways and trample pets this would be in the news frequently.

But why are the elk in that area comfortable around humans when they have a reputation for being the ghosts of the forests because they are naturally skittish and fearful of humans?

From the original article:

People are feeding them. You can accustom just about any wild animal to humans if you feed it. It's not a good idea.

[pdxMIKEpdx]

Portland is currently very heavily infested with grey squirrels, coyotes, crows, Norway rats, and especially Canada geese.
For the very reason mentioned above.
Deer are even a common sight in some parts of SE Portland now!

Lots of easily available food sources (little old ladies with sacks of peanuts, free roaming pet cats, home gardens, and chicken coops) and no predators.

[5gables]

Another article on the subject, watch out for the elk-

Elk run the show on Oregon’s north coast - https://www.hcn.org/articles/wildlif...ns-north-coast

[leastprime]

More cougars and 227s.

[leastprime]

Sister said that she had momma bear and cub come visit PC house. The Shih Tsu ( my dog for nearly 3 years) is now leashed when she goes out for night business.

[Johnny Z]

It's not only Elk but the Eagles, Moose, Lions Club a rogue Cub Scout Troop and the IOOF are causing problems.

But seriously, much of the elk problem may be due to the fires burning up their natural habitat.

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

Yeah, I remembered how when I lived in the mountains in WA way back when, that there could be huge elk herds that were like ghosts. They were actually hard to find. It took skill to hunt them.

Then, I moved to the northern CA coast a few years ago, and they're like lazy cows. Without fences.

All you really need to fix the problem are a bunch of hunting permits. They taste great. Better than beef. And one will more than fill your freezer.

Making wild animals into community pets with no fences or training or rules is nuts.