THE SHAME OF POINT REYES
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Dead Elk Walking

7/10/2021

6 Comments

 
July 7, 2021.  Location: North Pond 2 (northern end of the elk reserve)
​

One relatively healthy male was amongst several unhealthy males and as the healthy male moved among the rest it provided quite the visual comparison.  The exposed ribs are obvious, but also notice the pronounced hip and shoulder blades.  The rectum is extended, inflamed, and covered in black excrement.  The hip area appears collapsed rather than filled out as in the healthy male. 
Picture
This elk is starving even as he eats.
“I can think of no worse way to die. It is prolonged agony, where the elk are presumably hungry all of the time.” - Veterinarian Dr. Amy Allen in her testimony in the lawsuit against Point Reyes National Seashore
Picture
Rips, hip bones, a distended rectum, and fecal matter on the backside of the elk tell the tale of internal suffering
Watch the video below to see a healthy male with a diseased male. 
Unwary tourists walked past us “happy to see wildlife” even as Mathew P. Kline and I instead observed a very different scene than what the tourists were seeing. ​
Picture
A striking contrast of the backsides of two elk next to each other in the elk reserve
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Background: Note the sharp lines of the elk's skeleton coming into view compared to the rounded out elk in the foreground.

Words from the Pacific Sun article that investigated the necropsies of deceased elk in the reserve came to mind as we watched.

“Three of the necropsied elk were found alive, unable to stand or lift their heads; they expired within hours or were euthanized by gunshot. Before he passed, one young male, a “spike,” was “observed laying down, kicking and unable to right itself.” As with the other emaciated elk, the spike’s muscle, fat and bone marrow were severely atrophied; his body was eating itself. He perished foaming at the mouth and nose. His abdomen was swollen with excess fluid, and he suffered from hepatitis and liver abscesses. Worms were devouring the linings of his lungs, trachea and intestines. He died from starvation and maladies tied to mineral deficiencies and eating poisonous plants.”
Picture
A relatively healthy elk walks in front of a suffering elk in Point Reyes National Seashore
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A third male also showing signs of disease. The frame looks more like a coat hanger than a heavily muscled individual.
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The head, neck, and antlers look so heavy on an unhealthy body
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The neck, head, and antlers suddenly look so heavy when connected to a dying body
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A tear wells in my eye as I imagine the agonizing chaos taking place inside of an animal that has a bloated stomach while also showing ribs of starvation.
"His abdomen was swollen with excess fluid, and he suffered from hepatitis and liver abscesses. Worms were devouring the linings of his lungs, trachea and intestines." - Necropsy report
Picture
Comparison: This was the only relatively healthy male seen around the "pond" with the other males
Picture
It is hard not to think of the black waters of the disgusting puddle the elk are forced to drink from as I also look at their blackened backsides, proclaiming the presence of disease the elk may very well have gotten from the water. 
Picture
North Pond 2. The best of what is left. Naive, calloused, or just pro-ranching, many people will insist this water is all that is required to support all the wildlife in the elk reserve. Sadly the park service is amongst these people.
#nationalparks #tulelek #starvation #dehydration #poison #disease #elkreserve #pointreyes #pointreyesnationalseashore #deathbydesign #animalabuse #intentionaldeath #pacificsun #inverness #melaniegunn #davepress #craigkenkel
6 Comments
Lu Morano
7/10/2021 11:24:50 am

This egregious heartbreaking treatment of native life has to stop.
Thank you so much for taking your time (and broken heart) to witness and record this.
Appreciated!

Reply
Skyler
7/10/2021 04:12:42 pm

Thank you Lu, please share. Exposing this park service might be our only hope.

Reply
Beverly link
7/10/2021 12:39:41 pm

Don’t we have laws against cruelty to animals? When people pen up dogs or cats letting them starve with only filthy water to drink, they are prosecuted. It is time that criminal charges were brought against the national Park service.

Reply
Skyler
7/10/2021 04:14:02 pm

Laws only seem to apply when you can pay lobbyists enough to have Congresspeople interpret laws as the people with money see fit. In this case ranchers rule.

Reply
Ken G
7/12/2021 04:10:34 pm

Akeh-heh. Thank you for sharing the beautiful and sad messages of your photography at PRNS.

Reply
Yogi Bear
11/11/2021 03:54:42 am

Park biologists expound the importance of elk shed antlers as all important source of calcium for rodents. Big fine for taking one as a souvenir. Quite a market for them in Chinatown and on the Internet. So how come Historic "D" Ranch has a garage full of Tule elk skulls and antlers? Perhaps trophies for friends? A little side money? Or hiding the cruelty and suffering of the elk from the public as part of the new "elk management'?

Reply



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  • Blog
  • The Film
  • Donate
  • Truth isn't Easy
    • MALT Considerations
    • The Families (Overview Page) >
      • Mendoza
    • Morning Cup of Cow Shit
    • Adequate Water
    • Regenerative Ranching Debunked
    • An Ecologist's Tour of Point Reyes
    • Wildlife Biologist 1
    • Ignoring the Public
    • Ranching Association
    • All Bonus Video Material
    • 50 Minutes of Destruction
    • 45 Minutes of Marin Destruction
    • Debunking Propaganda
    • Calf Reality
    • Cruelty: Standard Practice
    • Plant Ecology Crash Course
  • Take Action
    • Local Voices Project
    • Contacting Officials and Papers
    • Newsletter signup
    • Contact the Filmmaker
    • Social Media
    • Contact PRNS
    • Plan a screening
    • CBD Action Page
    • Public Comment
  • Resources
    • Regenerative Bullshit
    • Fire
    • Documents >
      • An Administrative History
      • Plants and Cattle
      • Water Waivers
      • Leases
      • Point Blue Study - Ranching Harms Native Birds
      • Ranching and Ravens - Audobon Study
      • Responsive Management Survey
      • FOIA / Rancher Violations
      • PRNS Coastal Watershed Assessment
      • Top Crappy Places
      • An Administrative History of PRNS
      • Original Legislation
      • Ranchers Fighting Against the Seashore
      • The Dynastic Wealth of Point Reyes Ranch Families
    • 'This Land' - The Uncomfortable Truth
    • Bruce Keegan History
    • The New Threat
    • Plan F
    • Facts VS. Myths
    • By The Numbers
    • For Elk
    • Nature in National Parks
  • Sign Up