Elk Reintroduction Opposed In Garrett County

CUMBERLAND, Md. (AP) -- A proposal to reintroduce elk in western Maryland is running into opposition in Garrett County.

Garrett County Commission Chairman Gregan Crawford said county officials were not included in preliminary talks about the idea which originated with a special interest group. Crawford told The Cumberland Times-News the county sent a letter last month officially opposing the reintroduction.

Allegany County Commissioner Bill Valentine says meetings with sportsmen's groups will be arranged to discuss the proposal.

Elk have already been successfully reintroduced into Kentucky and Pennsylvania. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has formed a partnership with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Foundation to study reintroduction in western Maryland. The sportsmen's group says it would like to study the idea before a decision is made.

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