An experiment conducted by the Brown’s Tract Guides’ Association early in the 20th Century didn’t pan out, but if it had the Adirondacks might have become home to another species of wild animal—the wapiti (Cervus canadensis).

“Wapiti” translates as “white rump” in Shawnee and that is one of the features of the elk-like animal. It is also noted for a rack of antlers that may reach five feet across and weigh 20 to 30 pounds. The mature wapiti stands about five feet at shoulder height and weighs from 700 to 900 pounds. It is gray brown with dark brown to black legs, head and neck. They are related to the Old World Red Deer and, among deer species, second only to Elk in size.

The Adirondacks could provide plenty of roving space, the right climate, and should have been the perfect place for the animal.

In 1902 the City of Binghamton offered the Brown’s Tract Guides’ Association five wapiti to be the parent stock in establishing the species as native game animals in the Adirondacks. Four cows and one bull were crated and sent by railroad to Big Moose Station where a wagon was waiting to take them to Dart’s Lake where Bill Dart provided winter quarters and care until spring.

The wapiti fared well over the winter and were released in the spring into their new world. The animals became celebrities and while the population wasn’t large at the time, people paid attention to the five new residents. It turned out that the animals liked the attention and appreciated the treats they were offered. They had no fear of people; in fact they sought out treats and attention as they roamed from Big Moose through the Fulton Chain.

Their failure to go native turned out to be their undoing.

In the late fall the five wapiti were found dead at the foot of Moss Lake. It is believed that a disgruntled member of the Guides’ Association shot the friendly animals. Their bodies were lying in an area about 100 yards square suggesting that they made no effort to escape. People were very angry, but there was only circumstantial evidence and the killer was never punished.