PENINSULA: Sequim elk population doubles in six years

The size of the Sequim elk herd has nearly doubled in the past six years, a recent count by wildlife officials shows.

While there have been substantial drops in the number of elk throughout the North Olympic Peninsula during the past decade, the population of the Sequim herd increased from 52 animals in 1994 to more than 100 today, officials said.

A count last winter revealed 85 elk, but that number has likely grown, said Jack Smith, the state’s regional wildlife manager for the Olympic Peninsula and South Puget Sound.

“That group of elk is going contrary to the rest of them — increasing at a really high rate,” he said.

The number of elk throughout the Olympic Peninsula has decreased by 40 percent in the last decade, Smith said.

He credited a “huge forage base” as a factor contributing to the Sequim elk herd’s population growth.

This full report appears in the Friday/Saturday edition of the Peninsula Daily News, on sale throughout Clallam and Jefferson Counties.

More in News

Clallam commissioners to allocate opioid funding for health supplies

Board also approves funding for Port Angeles infrastructure project

Officials report fireworks-related incidents

Storage building a total loss, fire chief says

Firefighters work to extinguish a fire at the Port Angeles transfer station on Sunday. (Port Angeles Fire Department)
Firefighters put out fire at Port Angeles landfill

Firefighters from multiple jurisdictions extinguished a fire in the… Continue reading

Fire District 3 responds to 65 calls during weekend

Firefighters from Fire District 3 responded to a high volume… Continue reading

Legal aid clinic set for July 19

The Clallam-Jefferson County Pro Bono Lawyers will conduct a… Continue reading

Children pick up candy along the parade route in Forks on Friday during the Forks Old Fashioned 4th of July Parade. (Lonnie Archibald/for Peninsula Daily News)
Festivities on the Fourth

Children pick up candy along the parade route in Forks on Friday… Continue reading

A new parking lot next to the Sequim Civic Center will be completed by the end of the summer, according to Sequim city staff. The city purchased three lots adjacent to the center in June 2022 to convert the properties into a parking lot. The lots also were known for common calls to 911. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Sequim sets its list of projects

Summer work includes paving streets

Weekly flight operations scheduled

There will be field carrier landing practice operations for aircraft… Continue reading

Security exercise set for Wednesday at Indian Island

Naval Magazine Indian Island will conduct a security training… Continue reading

Project SAFER aims to help those with disabilities

Form identifies sensitivities for law enforcement officers

Summer meal programs help out families in Jefferson County

Jefferson Healthcare and Jefferson County Food Bank Association offer assistance

Violinist Kristian Bugge plays traditional Danish folk songs with Fiddle Tunes found Bertram Levy, July 2. (ELIJAH SUSSMAN/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS)
Fiddle Tunes fill the air at Fort Worden

Traditions flourish, musical and otherwise