Complaints against Rogers City elk force MDNR’s hand
On Oct. 15, a Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) conservation officer euthanized a rutting elk that had become habituated to people in the Rogers City area over the past year.
The elk first came to the town last fall and was fed apples and other food by area residents. The elk returned to the forest during the winter but returned several weeks ago.
The MDNR reported there have been three separate complaints of the elk charging people over the past few days and several other residents stated the elk would just follow them around and walk right up to them.
The aggressive behavior and increase in complaints have continued to escalate over the past year. Prior hazing efforts, including firing cracker shells, have not successfully deterred the elk, according to the MDNR spokesperson.
