GAYLORD — Elk have been declared the official wildlife mascot of Otsego County following a resolution adopted by the Gaylord Area Convention & Tourism Bureau, City of Gaylord, Otsego County and the Downtown Development Authority.

Per a Sept. 3 news release from Otsego County, the effort was led by the Gaylord Tourism Bureau as part of its strategic plan to highlight the region’s natural resources.

“Elk are not only a unique natural resource, they are also a significant factor for tourism in our area,” said Paul Beachnau, executive director. “We felt an official declaration would help promote our entire community and bring the success story of Michigan’s elk population to the forefront.”

Elk were once native to northern Michigan but went extinct in the late 1800s. The current free-roamin

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