IDFG puts down Silverton Elk

Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG) was forced to euthanize an elk in Silverton after it because aggressive with residents.

Nicknamed “Gladys” by Silverton resident Jordyn Keller, the curious and inquisitive cow elk became a regular pedestrian in the small Silver Valley city after a harsh winter pushed her into town.

In December, Gladys even made regional news after she had a comedic run in with Keller’s dogs in her front yard.

This over familiarity with humans though would unfortunately lead to her death.

Because of her constant presence in the area, some Silverton residents felt comfortable enough to feed her.

Pictures and videos even circulated on social media in the last week of humans feeding her by hand.

What the residents didn’t know was that this seemingly harmless gesture would completely change how this wild animal thinks about getting food.

IDFG Wildlife Conservation Educator Phil Cooper explains that feeding this elk (or any other wild animal for that matter) habituated it, meaning that in this case it became accustomed to getting food from humans.

The problems that follow an habituated animal played out not too long after she was feed.

Tuesday, Gladys visited another Silverton residence, looking for food and not wanting to take no for an answer.

Cooper said that the elk was attempting to enter a couple buildings, that when Fish and Game was called.

When conservation officer Mark Bowman arrived, the elk was at an elderly residents home and was not planning on going anywhere.

Bowman observed that when he attempted to shoo away the animal (even making physical contact with it), she stood her ground and was becoming aggressive.

Cooper said that this behavior for a cow elk is not normal.

“When there are no more handouts,” Bowman explained, “they get aggressive because they cant get anymore food.”

This was when the decision to put Gladys down was made.

“We almost always have to put the animal down when they get like that.”

Bowman contacted the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office after the animal was cleaned and a Silverton resident was located to receive the meat.

Contrary to rumors that circulated after she was put down, Gladys was not pregnant.

It was noted that the elks heart was abnormally enlarged, reflecting the possibility of high stress.

Keller was upset and dissapointed by how the entire situation unfolded.

“One of the great things about living in North Idaho is that we get to experience and coexist with these animals,” Keller said. “However, that is ruined when individuals cannot respect the wildlife, and give them their deserved space. You are not “helping” the elk by feeding and petting it. You are disturbing nature.”

In addition to having some tough talk for the human who fed the animal, Keller is also unhappy with the decision to put Gladys down.

“If she was this used to people, it shouldn’t have been a problem to coax her into a trailer, or tranquilizer and relocate her. I am so upset that this innocent animal was put down due to human actions.”

Bowman explained that IDFG tries its best to reintroduce habituated animals back into the wild, “but it doesn’t always work.”

Both Cooper and Bowman want to use this situation as an example of what happens when humans interact with wildlife so that it can be avoided in the future.

“Its detrimental to all wildlife,” Bowman said referring to feeding wildlife and habituating them.

IDFG stresses to everyone that you should not interact with the local wildlife in anyway.

If wildlife does wander into your area, simply allow it to move along.

Kellogg Police Department would also like to stress this point in regard to the neighborhood moose, “Georgia.”