© banspy via FlickrRangers in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park say they expect to charge a Granville County man with the illegal shooting of an elk.
The elk was found the dead on Friday and was one of the largest and most majestic breeding bulls in the herd that had been reintroduced to the park's Cataloochee Valley several years ago. Elk had been common in the region but diminished due to hunting and habitat loss in the early 19th century. The park reintroduced 25 elk to the valley in 2001 and has since grown to about 100.
Officials say someone wrote down a vehicle tag number and they are investigating the Granville County man. His name has not been released as no charges have been officially filed. A person convicted of poaching in a national park can face jail time and fines.