The 85-day quarantine period ended so wildlife officials in West Virginia opened the holding pen gate and released more elk onto their new home landscape. The 46 adult elk and five calves come to West Virginia after being captured in Arizona.
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation provided both funding and volunteer manpower to assist the cross-country effort.
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources also reached an agreement to acquire 17 elk from the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area in Kentucky.
All total, officials released 82 adults and five calves into West Virginia over the past 18 months. Given the calving season, the herd should exceed 100 later in 2018.
(Photo source: West Virginia Division of Natural Resources)