Mudflow elk appear OK so far this winter

State officials say the elk at the Mount St. Helens Wildlife Area appear to have weathered well the late December cold snap.

“Animals that we have been able to observe closely appear to be in good health,’’ said Sandra Jonker, regional wildlife program manager for the Department of Fish and Wildlife. “No obvious outward signs of physical decline were noted. We have not seen any winter-kill animals and have not yet received any reports from members of the public or other sources.’’

State biologists tallied 282 animals on Dec. 30 during a survey from the Weyerhaeuser Forest Learning Center.

The western portion of the upper Toutle River mudflow was almost free of snow, while the eastern end was covered, Jonker said.

A brief visit to the western end of the wildlife area found natural forage still available.

South-facing slopes above the wildlife area and to the west also had forage available, with many open areas free of snow up to about 1,500 feet in elevation.

Small groups of elk were seen resting or feeding along state Highway 504 from Silver Lake up to about 2,000 feet in elevation.

While very cold temperatures blanketed the region around Christmas, November and early December were extremely mild and warm.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife fed elk on an emergency basis in the Mount St. Helens Wildlife Area during the past two winters with alfalfa.

In March 2008, state officials and volunteers counted more than 800 elk on the floor of the Toutle River valley. Almost 160 elk died last winter on the Mount St. Helens Wildlife Area.

The wildlife area is closed to public access annually from Dec. 1 through April 30 to minimize disturbance to the elk.