Speaker: Franz Ingelfinger, Montana FWP
Topic: “What’s Happening to the Elk in the South Fork of the Flathead?”

Elk numbers in the Flathead’s South Fork has been a topic of interest for generations. Today, elk numbers are at lows not seen in almost a century. The general perception of those with a history hunting the area is that predators are the root cause of this decline. At the same time, the legacy of past forest management, including harvest history, fire suppression, Wilderness designation, and now, recent large-scale wildfires, have resulted in habitat changes that affect forage quality and quantity, and thermal cover in winter. To inform management, Montana FWP recently initiated a collaring effort to evaluate habitat use, movement, fecundity, and survival of cow elk. Franz will share information from the first years of this study and discuss factors influencing elk numbers in the South Fork drainage.

Franz has worked in natural resources for more than 20 years, having earned a master’s degree emphasizing wildlife management from the University of Wyoming. He’s worked with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks since 2016 and currently serves as the Kalispell area wildlife biologist. Franz’s scope covers wildlife management efforts across the greater Flathead Valley area, including a large portion of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex.