VIDEO: Locals marvel as reintroduced elk herd trots through Fraser Valley

Elk were reintroduced to the Harrison Mills area 10 years ago

Elk are seen wading through the water near Harrison Mills. Elk were reintroduced to the area about 10 years ago and have been growing in number. (Screenshot/Andrea Wafler)

A large herd of elk rushing through the Harrison Mills area dropped jaws and raised eyebrows for many locals who’d never seen them in the area before.

Andrea Wafler recently captured video of the herd moving through the water off of Morris Valley Road in the Sts’ailes community, drawing online attention from amazed onlookers.

RELATED: Elk returned to Harrison Lake forests

Elk were re-introduced into the community back in 2014 into the forests surrounding Harrison Lake, thanks to the Sts’ailes leaders and the Ministry of Fish and Wildlife. About 24 were brought form Sechelt during the 2014 release. At the time, about 60 elk lived in the area, due in no small part to several releases over the course of several years.

While many residents commented they’d never seen such a sight, some in the Sts’ailes community say the elk are a regular, welcome sight, sometimes grazing in area yards.

– with files from Jessica Peters

AgassizWildlife