Native elk, or wapiti roamed throughout southern and parts of central Ontario until the mid-1800's. Overhunting and habitat destruction pushed the remnant of once thriving elk population into the upper Ottawa River watershed, only to be completely eliminated by the turn of the 1900's.  Alberta elk were reintroduced into the Burwash area in the 1930's and 1940's. Unwarranted fears of elk infecting local cattle with liver parasites called for the destruction of imported animals in the 1950's. Until 1979, elk were hunted in an effort to totally exterminate the introduced population. In spite of this, some elk escaped the slaughter and eventually populated a region extending from Burwash to Georgian Bay. This unique population in our province has been protected under the Ontario Game and Fish Act since 1980. A 4-year research study conducted on the elk in the 1990's by Cambrian College and Laurentian University established some basic facts about the Ontario elk ecology, population dynamics, food habits and potential for rehabilitation. In 1996, the Ontario Minister of Natural Resources announced the government's support for further elk reintroductions. photograph ©2003 Andy Fyon Between 1998 and 2001, 174 Alberta elk from Elk Island National Park were introduced into the Burwash area. After some initial post-release acclimation difficulties and heavy predation by wolves, the present elk population of about 120 is rapidly adapting to the local environment.   Sam the Elk photograph ©2003 Andy Fyon  photograph ©2003 Ernie St. Germain They continue to be a protected species. Extensive Burwash grasslands are rare on the Precambrian Shield and represent valuable elk habitat.  Both the originally and the recently introduced elk calve, rut and forage in the Burwash fields. It is therefore important to preserve this habitat in its present form and refrain from activities that would disrupt elk during the critical times of the year (calving, rut, late winter).    -- Joe Hamr, Director, Northern Environment Heritage Institute (NEHI), Cambrian College photograph ©2003 Mike Hall

December 9, 2003 Ken McCausland Chair, Citizens Advisory Group for Burwash RR3 Site 33 Box 17 Sudbury, Ontario P3N 4N1 Dear Mr. McCausland: Re: Burwash Area Land Use / Management Planning Please accept this letter of support from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) for your Advisory Group's efforts to ensure the Burwash Lands Area is protected and managed in a manner that will be beneficial to the existing and future welfare of its' wildlife resources.  RMEF Canada has a particularly strong interest in this area, as it is a nucleus of ongoing efforts by the Province of Ontario, Parks Canada, RMEF Canada and many volunteers to re-establish a viable population of wild elk in northern Ontario.  Elk have been, and will hopefully one day continue to be moved from Elk Island National Park, Alberta, to the Burwash Land Area to build a viable population of elk there.  The Burwash area was selected as a focus site for the Ontario elk enhancement program because of the characteristics of its' large area of relatively uninterrupted suitable habitat.  Should those qualities be unduly compromised, the future welfare of the developing elk population as well as that of other wildlife could be placed in jeopardy.  Sometimes, however, some degree of development is inevitable.  If this should prove to be the case in the Burwash area, RMEF Canada has staff with experience regarding industrial and other development in areas of importance to elk and other wildlife, and would be very willing to make that experience available to your Group in an advisory capacity. In conclusion, RMEF Canada strongly supports your efforts to protect this valuable area of wildlife habitat and will continue to do so in the foreseeable future.  We wish you success in your Groups' efforts. Yours in conservation, Brian Provo Director, Lands & Conservation Wildlife Relocation Coordinator RMEFC c.c. Nels Conroy: Co-Chair, Sudbury Chapter, RMEFC