OLYMPIA — A large elk herd in Kittitas County has caused headaches for travelers for years. A bill that was sponsored by Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, and recently signed law aims to do something about that issue when it goes into effect.

House Bill 1353 was passed to address the problem of the Colockum elk herd, which is estimated to exceed more than 6,000 in population, in Kittitas County. Things got so bad last year that on the Vantage hill alone, 60 elk were struck and killed by motorists. Dent’s bill directs the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and state Department of Transportation to perform an elk management pilot project to reduce elk-related collisions.

“Now that the bill is signed, I am eager to move forward with this pilot project and get some herd management tools in place,” Dent said. “I have been talking about the public safety threat the size of this herd poses to those traveling the roads in Kittitas County for quite some time. This legislation couldn’t come at a better time. Just last month, a woman was injured when she hit two elk on the roadway south of Ellensburg.”

Included in the pilot project is the increased use of special hunts and general hunting of the Colockum herd, the establishment of a permitting process to allow people to feed elk by permit only and the use of managed livestock grazing to draw elk away from roads and privately owned property.

“Our local economy, particularly the agricultural industry, is also struggling with the elk. The herd is getting into our farmers’ hay crops and barns,” Dent stated. “Obviously current efforts to manage the Colockum herd have not worked. We are hopeful with new flexibility and additional management options we can start controlling their population.”

The bill goes effect July 22.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.