Spring 2026 Set For Elk To Return To Cloquet Area

It's hard to believe, but elk once were native to Minnesota. That could soon be true once again, as an effort is underway to bring the elk back to Northeastern Minnesota.

History of Elk in Minnesota

Elk were a common sight in Minnesota until the late 1800s. Agriculture and development drove them out of Minnesota. The last was seen in The Northwest Angle in 1932. Now, local Native American Tribes and the Minnesota DNR work together to bring Elk back into remote parts of Minnesota. They've successfully reintroduced two heards in Northwest Minnesota, and now are looking to our region.

 Fon du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa To Reintroduce Elk To Cloquet Area

Funding was approved in 2023 by the Minnesota legislature for the reintroduction project. Research, a development plan, and public input were all required. The plan originally was to move some of the elk from the Northwest herd to the Cloquet area in 2025. That was delayed, and now it's planned for the spring of 2026.

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Vehicle Collisions + Agriculture Damage A Concern For Some

Most people support the elk returning to the region, but some worry about the impact it will have, quite literally, with some vehicles. An elk is a very large animal, much larger than a white-tailed deer, but still not as big as a fully grown moose. Moose are a few hundred pounds heavier and at least a foot taller than elk. Still, you wouldn't want to hit an elk with your vehicle.

Free-ranging elk can also cause damage to agricutltural crops, and could be another carrier of wildlife disease. That's why the DNR has created stringent animal health testing guidelines for any elk that will be released.