Elk reintroduction plan by Fond du Lac Band on track for 2027

KAXE's Tuesday Morning Show strives to take an in-depth look at some natural resource-based issues important to Northern Minnesota. Producer Mark Jacobs and hosts Heidi Holtan and John Latimer discuss the problems and highlight some creative solutions. The "Elk in MN" series is produced by Mark Jacobs.

Elk once roamed much of Northern Minnesota, but the species was extirpated by the early 20th century.

Decades ago, a small herd was reestablished in northwestern Minnesota. Now, in a new initiative, the Fond Du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa have an elk reintroduction plan in and around the Fond Du Lac Reservation in the Arrowhead.

Makenzie Henk, an elk biologist with the Fond du Lac Band, joined the KAXE Morning Show to talk about the project.

Elk populations help increase plant diversity by preventing forest openings from closing. These openings provide vital habitat for deer, grouse and pollinators. The elk also increase the aesthetic appeal and economic value of the land they occupy, bringing in tourists, photographers and hunters.

Public support for the project is high, according to Henk, and progress is ongoing. So far, the team is building an acclimation pen for the incoming elk and creating woodland openings to ensure the elk have access to their ideal habitat. They're also fine-tuning the elk management plan by studying the elk’s behavior in their current range in northwestern Minnesota.

The project is on track to begin introducing the elk in early 2027. For more details, listen to the full interview above.

For more, subscribe to our Season Watch Newsletter or visit the Season Watch Facebook page.

Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).