Request for extension of Ron Stewart Preserve at Rabbit Mountain elk management plan will also be discussed.

Boulder County, Colo. - Boulder County Parks & Open Space and Colorado Parks and Wildlife will host an open house Wednesday, Feb. 5, to discuss management options of the Red Hill elk herd (see area map below) and also to extending the Elk & Vegetation Management Plan at Ron Stewart Preserve at Rabbit Mountain. A short presentation will be given showing the progress made at Ron Stewart Preserve over the past three years and a second presentation will discuss the options being considered for the Red Hill herd. Staff will be available to answer questions. Public comments will be accepted at the meeting and online starting Feb. 5.

Elk Management Open House
Wednesday, Feb. 5 from 6:30 – 8 p.m.
Ron Stewart Parks & Open Space Building
5201 St. Vrain Road, Longmont

The Red Hill elk herd makes use of county-owned properties closed to the public on either side of US 36 between Heil Valley Ranch and Table Mountain. The area has been historically utilized by the herd during fall and winter after migrating down from their summer range at higher elevations. However, a growing number of elk have recently ceased migration and now spend their summer at low elevation on county-owned properties and the Table Mountain area.

The elk herd’s rapid population growth has the potential to cause extensive damage to the highly diverse native plants and wildlife habitat of this area. Additionally, this area has been noted as a dangerous highway elk crossing by the Colorado Department of Transportation with numerous vehicle-wildlife collisions.

For more information please visit boco.org/elk or contact Resource Planning Manager Jeff Moline, jmoline@bouldercounty.org or 303-678-6270.