The Department of Natural Resources says efforts to bring elk to the Black River Falls area are about to get underway.

An agreement has been signed with the state of Kentucky to allow the trapping of dozens of wild elk there. The animals will be tested for disease and brought to Jackson County this spring. DNR Big Game Ecologist Kevin Wallenfang said that eventually some elk will also be added to the existing herd near Clam Lake.

Sign up for daily news! Stay informed with WPR's email newsletter.

“Hopefully we'll have some good success over the next few years,” said Wallenfang. “We’ll hopefully have 50 elk coming in this year, and then in two consecutive years another 50 each. And then we’ll be splitting those up. It’s pretty exciting to finally give our northern heard a boost and start a new one in Jackson County.”

Wallenfang said that none of the elk brought to Black River Falls will be hunted this year, and elk numbers near Clam Lake are still below a level that would allow a hunt. But eventually, shooting of some elk may occur.