Farmers plagued by Canadian elk relocation

GUELPH, Ontario, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Canadian farmers in Central Ontario are complaining a provincial relocation of wild elk from Alberta is out of control and costing them thousand of dollars.

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture, in a release, called on the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources to either take control measures or compensate farmers for their losses.

Elk were eradicated in Central Ontario during the 1800s by hunting and disease, and in 2001, the ministry introduced a herd of 120 elk into the region.

Farmer Lynn Davis, director of the Hastings Federation of Agriculture, said in the statement the ministry promised to step in if the herd exceeded 250, but didn't.

"With over 500 elk now roaming the area, the herd has more than doubled MNRs 'control trigger', and nothing is being done to control it or compensate farmers for their losses," Davis said.

Farmers claim roaming elk break down fences and let livestock out, trample guard dogs, eat livestock feed, and worst of all, devour crops, the release said.

There was no immediate response from Ontario provincial officials.