WILDLIFE -- Helicopters soon will be flying over the Coeur d'Alene and St. Joe river drainages to help wildlife biologists get started on a major multi-year elk research project.

Idaho Fish and Game Department researchers will be working with a private helicopter contractor starting around Jan. 19 to capture about 100 cow and calf elk, take blood samples and fit them with GPS tracking collars.

The collars will allow researchers to monitor the elk habitat use and seasonal movements. A morality signal from the transmitters tell researchers when the elk dies, so survival rates can be calculated and causes of death can be investigated. 

• A similar project in Western Montana has helped biologists determine, among other things, that mountain lions are taking a far higher toll on elk than wolves.

In this study, cow and calf elk are being captured with either nets or tranquilizer darts depending upon the terrain and density of the forest canopy, said Phil Cooper, department spokesman in Coeur d'Alene.

"Prior to the development of GPS collars, biologists had to use an antenna in hand or on a plane to determine an animal’s location," Cooper said.  "Most locations were usually midday, during weather that allowed safe flights and good visibility.  Now, locations are taken regardless of weather, giving a much better picture of habitat uses and requirements."