NASCAR WCUP: Burton takes part in landmark event
Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
For thefirst time in over 150 years, elk
once again are roaming about the Cataloochee(NC) Valley. Ward Burton, driver
if theNo. 22 CAT Dodge and an avid supporter of the Rocky Mountain Elk
Foundation,was on hand for the ceremony that took place Friday, February 2.
The “soft-release” of the 26 elk marked thebeginning of a five-year experiment to determine if they can once again survivein the Smokies.
“Itwas an unbelievable experience, to see those massive animals come out of thattrailer and stop and stare at you – I can’t even tell you the emotion thatovercomes you,” said Burton.
“It was aproject that I got involved in during the final stages of planning andexecuting. The Rocky Mountain ElkFoundation put together most of the monetary resources through local chaptersand through the help of other great partners in the project. I was pleased to be able to contribute tosuch a landmark event.
“Theseare the types of things that the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation gets involvedwith. It gives me great pride to helpfund projects that support wildlife and habitat conservation.”
Elk once roamed the woods of the Cataloochee Valley, buthuman development and settlement in the area eradicated the elk herd.
“Oneof the primary roles of our national parks is to preserve and sometimes restorenatural processes and biological diversity,” said Mike Tollefson, Great SmokyMountains National Park Superintendent. “Where it is feasible, that may mean reintroducing species thathistorically were part of an ecosystem.”
TheCataloochee Valley was selected after biologists found that it had a favorablehabitat and it was strongly supported by Governor Hunt and the local chaptersof the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF). RMEF will supply the majority of the estimated $1.1 million it will costto conduct the five-year experiment.
“The RockyMountain Elk Foundation has a strong support group that extends further thanthe Rocky Mountains,” added Burton. “They are committed to ensuring that elk will bugle among the mountainsacross our nation. I am thrilled to bea part of such a great organization.”
Theelk, equipped with radio collars, will remain in a 3-acre pen for the next fewmonths while biologists study their movements and to help determine theirhabitat use and food preferences. Biologists will use this information to decide whether the Great SmokyMountains will support a full-scale elk reintroduction.
“Ilook forward to the day when I can take my son to the Cataloochee Valley and bewalking in the woods and hear the bugling of elk,” said Burton. “That is what makes all of this worthwhile.”
After2-3 months in the acclimation pen, the 26 radio-collared elk will be releasedinto the wilderness where they will continue to be monitored. If everythinggoes as planned, an additional 25 elk are expected to be released in early 2002and 2003 to bring the total to around 75 animals.
Text Provided By Heidi Stoddard
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