Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are demanding answers from the “trigger-happy” Department of Natural Resources following the killing of Roger the Elk last month.
“The DNR’s behavior while handing this incident was nothing short of trigger-happy,” state Rep. Cam Cavitt, R-Cheboygan, said in a Wednesday statement. “There must have been a better way to handle this, and I cannot imagine that there are not more steps regarding notification and preparation that must be taken.
“The entire Rogers City community is collectively heartbroken following Roger’s killing,” he said. “My office has been flooded with messages from grieving and outraged community members seeking answers as to why the DNR made this senseless decision.”
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Cavitt is among 19 state representatives, including two Democrats, who sent a letter Wednesday to DNR Director Scott Bowen, calling out the decision to kill the beloved bull elk who had frequented Rogers City over the last two autumns.
The young bull, named Roger by local residents, separated from his herd by more than 20 miles to roam area parks, nap in the yards of local residents and stroll along the beach.
“He liked to be along the lakeshore … and honestly, who wouldn’t want to be?” Rogers City Mayor Scott McLennan told the Detroit Free Press.
Roger also attracted a lot of attention, with many snapping pictures of the elk and attempting to feed and approach the animal, despite warnings from local law enforcement to keep a distance.
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“When he arrived a month ago, he behaved himself,” McLennan said. “He just wandered around…. Pictures were snapped at all times. People would come from other communities to see Roger. It was quite a treat for us here to see (him).”
That treat, however, became a headache when Roger became less fearful and more aggressive in mid-October, with multiple reports of the elk bluff charging and approaching folks in town.
“The elk and people were unable to exist on that landscape, and we understand 100% what it meant to the people and how iconic he was,” Chad Stewart, the DNR’s elk specialist, told The Alpena News.
“But we have to consider public safety,” Stewart said. “That animal has two large weapons on the top of its head and it would not take much to severely injure or, worse, take a human life. We have to protect against that scenario. We would rather talk about this than having to take questions from a reporter who found out we knew about a habituated animal and asked why we didn’t do anything about it.”
On Oct. 16, DNR officials located Roger at North Shore Park, where they shot and killed him as Rogers City Police blocked off the streets and nearby parking lot. Lawmakers complained Rogers’ death came with no warning to city officials or the public.
The incident immediately sparked outrage on social media, forcing the DNR to justify its decision.
“The fear of people was gone, and it is hard for them to get that back,” said Stewart, who insisted relocating Roger was not an option. “Normally, an animal will flee. When they lose fear of people, they can become more aggressive and their demeanor can change. When it becomes a public safety issue, we have to eliminate it.”
Cavitt and others wrote in the letter Wednesday “the decision to euthanize Roger was made in haste, without adequate engagement with local stakeholders, many of whom are now left to wonder if the situation could have been avoided with more thoughtful planning and intervention on the DNR’s part.”
“I am formally requesting that the DNR conduct a thorough review of the events surrounding Roger’s death and engage with local officials and stakeholders to evaluate more humane, proactive methods for managing similar encounters in the future,” the letter read.
“I look forward to hearing about meaningful steps the DNR will take to rebuild trust with Rogers City while ensuring future interactions with Michigan’s treasured wildlife are handled with greater care and foresight.”