Elk are by far the dominant ungulate in
Waterton Lakes Naitonal Park, with a
population large enough to influence
park ecosystems, particularly in the
montane and aspen parkland ecoregions.
As important grazers, they help to
maintain grassland health by preventing
woody plant encroachment, but overgrazing
will cause grassland health to
deteriorate. In Waterton Lakes National
Park, aerial elk surveys (Figure 1) have
been conducted since the early 1970s. The winter elk population census is conducted by means of an aerial or ground survey, in which a complete minimum population count is calculated, with the goal of detecting change over time. Historic counts are collated from park files and annual reports, as well as survey reports.