Pennsylvania Game Commission - Northcentral Region
The annual aerial elk survey is underway throughout the elk range! For the next few weeks, the Pennsylvania Game Commission will be counting elk from the sky using a fixed-winged plane equipped with thermal image cameras.
The survey takes place in the winter so the surveying biologist can see through the tree canopy and in the evenings. The plane is equipped with infrared technology, which “sees” heat, making elk shine like beacons and easier to see and count.
There are a known number of collared animals throughout the elk range, and there are other, uncollared elk with them. As elk are spotted from the plane, they are counted, including the collared elk.
The Game Commission uses the proportion of collared elk the aircraft sees versus the ones they don’t see. This proportion is plugged into a mark and recapture formula that generates the estimation of the elk population.
The elk population estimate is the foundation for elk management. Habitat management, hunting seasons, and other management objectives are centered around the population estimate.
The plane flies low and traverses back and forth across the entire range over the course of a few weeks, so sky gazers may notice the airplane circling or traversing back and forth.
Learn more about elk and elk management in the comments.
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