Boxley Elk Herd

Boxley, Arkansas has a herd of Elk near Pruitt, Arkansas on the Buffalo River. They are a beautiful rare site! Photos shared by Fleta Aday.

History of Arkansas Elk:

Elk were once common throughout North America, including Arkansas. Due to decreasing habitat, their numbers slowly dwindled. The species of Elk that was native to Arkansas (Cerrus elaphus canadensis) disappeared in the 1840s.

In 1933, the U.S. Forest Service introduced Rocky Mountain elk (Cersus elaphus nelsoni) in Franklin County's Black Mountain Refuge. These guys were also gone by the 1950s.

In 1981, Arkansas Game and Fish decided to try again. During the years between 1981 and 1985, 112 elk were released near Pruitt in Newton County, along the Buffalo National River.