Photo © Martha Ture, Mt. Tamalpais Photography mttamalpaisphotos.com

The National Park Service (NPS) has initiated a public comment process for their Tomales Point Area Plan and Environmental Assessment at Point Reyes National Seashore that analyzes three alternatives, identifies a preferred alternative, and incorporates feedback from previous public comment opportunities.

This plan will update the management guidance of this wilderness-designated peninsula, including the management of the Tule Elk herd in this region of the park. These elk are currently confined to the Point, held behind 8-foot fences that were erected in 1978 by the Park Service to separate this herd from the public land used by ranchers for cattle.

The “preferred alternative” outlined in the Tomales Point Area Plan Environmental Assessment would right a wrong begun in 1978 with the annexation of the Tomales Point elk herd, and the construction of the fence that holds them captive.  The Tule Elk on Tomales Point cannot escape their enclosed peninsula, and are thus at the mercy of water and forage availability within that restricted territory. This needs to change.

Please help WildCare support the National Park Service’s “preferred alternative,” which includes the removal of the fence to allow the Tomales Point elk herd to expand their territory to areas that offer consistent sources of forage and water. Adding your name to our petition strengthens our argument that our supporters, and wildlife advocates everywhere, agree that the fence should be removed. When we submit our official comment to the NPS, we will be able to say that we and this many of our supporters agree that this is the correct choice for the Tule Elk.

Once you’ve signed our petition, we encourage you to submit your comments to NPS advocating for the removal of the fence and the release of the Tomales Point elk herd. Comments may be submitted here.

The public comment period will run until June 5, 2024.

THANK YOU! The comment period for this issue has ended and WildCare's petition is no longer available. Thank you to everyone who signed!