North Michigan News

State Representative Cam Cavitt has taken action following the recent killing of a well-known elk in Rogers City. On Wednesday, he and 18 other House members, including two Democrats, sent a bipartisan letter to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The letter demands a thorough review of the circumstances surrounding the death of the elk named Roger.

Roger was killed by the DNR without consulting local officials or notifying the public. "The DNR’s behavior while handling this incident was nothing short of trigger-happy," said Cavitt, R-Cheboygan. He added that there should have been more steps regarding notification and preparation before taking such action. According to Cavitt, his office has received numerous messages from community members who are both grieving and outraged.

Roger had become a familiar presence in Rogers City over the past two years during fall. This year saw an increase in human interactions with Roger, which led to changes in his behavior. Despite these interactions and reports of unpredictable behavior, the DNR did not take measures to relocate or monitor Roger to prevent escalation.

"I understand we need to keep the public safe, but there should have been a public forum about relocation before he was killed," Cavitt stated. He criticized the DNR's decision-making process as unacceptable.

Cavitt's actions align with those of the Rogers City Council, which recently passed a resolution urging the DNR to investigate its procedures for animal relocation and euthanizing in response to public concerns after Roger's death.