The Utah Department of Natural Resources and the Summit County Sheriff's Office have closed an investigation into the death of a bull elk on the 910 Cattle Ranch, concluding that the animal was euthanized legally after sustaining injuries. The decision follows months of scrutiny regarding whether county staff or officials acted unlawfully during the incident in August 2025.
Investigation finds no illegal activity
The investigation, which looked into allegations that a struggling bull elk was shot at nightfall by county staff, concluded without any charges being filed. According to the Summit County Sheriff's Office, deputies' inquiry into the circumstances of the elk's death took less than one week to complete.
The case was closed after a review by both the Sheriff's Office and the Utah Department of Natural Resources. Sheriff's spokesperson Skyler Talbot stated that both agencies decided not to pursue criminal investigations into the matter. Investigators determined there were no injuries consistent with poaching, finding instead that the elk had sustained chest trauma and a puncture wound, likely occurring during the rut, or mating season.
The controversy began following an encounter on August 31, 2025, when hikers discovered an elk stuck in a muddy spring. Christie Babalis, the unopposed nominee for Summit County Council District 4, was part of a group of four hikers who found the animal while the ranch was still being leased by the county prior to its official purchase. The group attempted to remove the elk from the mud before contacting ranch workers for assistance.
The incident led to a heated interaction between Babals and Jess Kirby, Summit County's Lands and Natural Resources Director. A recording of the exchange captured Babalis questioning why Kirby did not take action when she had also seen the elk earlier that afternoon. Kirby responded by stating she had reported the animal to her warden, who then notified the Division of Wildlife Resources.
Kirby defended the county's actions, noting that it is not the responsibility of citizens or county staff to save all wildlife. She told KPCW that during the rutting season, animals frequently become injured. Later that same night, three shots were fired on the ranch property. DNR spokesperson Faith Jolley confirmed that the agency had requested the county's open space warden to put down the elk because the animal could not stand and was likely suffering.
Warden Jeremie Forman documented in an incident report that he decided to euthanize the elk after confirming with dispatch that no on-duty DNR officer was available to respond. This decision remains a point of contention for critics like Leslie Miller, a former property owner's partner, who has publicly criticized the county's management decisions.
The elk death has become a symbol of the larger tension regarding the future of the 8,600-acre property. Summit County purchased the ranch for $55 million in January following an option agreement that began in late 2023. While the county aims to use the land for conservation and public recreation, some residents and former users of the land prefer it be maintained as a strict wildlife preserve.
