Table 1. Distribution of elk fecal samples across time, space, and sampling methodologies.
| Location | Date | Collection method | Number of samples | Feed type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fish Creek | 12/20/2018 | Corral | 8 | Alfalfa/grass hay mix |
| 1/7/2019 | Corral | 23 | Alfalfa/grass hay mix | |
| 1/20/2019 | Noninvasive | 10 | Alfalfa/grass mix | |
| Horse Creek | 1/14/2019 | Noninvasive | 10 | Grass hay |
| 1/22/2019 | Noninvasive | 19 | Grass hay | |
| 4/4/2019 | Noninvasive | 9 | Alfalfa hay | |
| South Park | 1/14/2019 | Noninvasive | 10 | Grass hay |
| 1/22/2019 | Noninvasive | 10 | Grass hay | |
| 3/11/2019 | Noninvasive | 10 | Alfalfa hay | |
| 4/4/2019 | Noninvasive | 10 | Alfalfa hay | |
| National Elk Refuge (NER) | 1/21/2019 | Noninvasive | 10 | Natural |
| 2/4/2019 | Noninvasive | 10 | Natural | |
| 2/24/2019 | Noninvasive | 10 | Alfalfa pellets | |
| 3/8/2019 | Noninvasive | 10 | Alfalfa pellets | |
| 3/24/2019 | Noninvasive | 10 | Alfalfa pellets | |
| Black Butte | 1/22/2019 | Noninvasive | 10 | Grass hay |
| Green River Lakes | 1/23/2019 | Noninvasive | 10 | Grass hay |
| Soda Lake | 1/25/2019 | Noninvasive | 10 | Grass hay |
| Grey’s River | 1/19/2019 | Noninvasive | 9 | Alfalfa/grass mix |
| Forest Park | 1/19/2019 | Noninvasive | 10 | Alfalfa/grass mix |
| Alpine | 1/19/2019 | Noninvasive | 9 | Alfalfa/grass mix |
| Muddy Creek | 1/22/2019 | Noninvasive | 10 | Alfalfa hay |
| Dell Creek | 1/24/2019 | Noninvasive | 10 | Alfalfa hay |
| Fall Creek Feedground | 1/24/2019 | Noninvasive | 10 | Alfalfa hay |
| South Jackson Native Winter Range (near South Park) | 1/27/2019 | Net | 9 | Natural |
| Gros Ventre Native Winter Range (near Fish Creek) | 11/5/2018 | Net | 16 | Natural |
Samples from elk on native winter range were obtained directly from the animals following net-gun capture (Net). Samples from elk on feedgrounds were collected either from the ground (Noninvasive), or by habituating elk to feeding in an enclosure for capture and direct sampling (Corral).